[Senate Hearing 119-207]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-207
NOMINATION OF HOWARD LUTNICK,
NOMINEE TO BE SECRETARY,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
JANUARY 29, 2025
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available online: http://www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
61-929 PDF WASHINGTON : 2025
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
TED CRUZ, Texas, Chairman
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota MARIA CANTWELL, Washington,
ROGER WICKER, Mississippi Ranking
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
JERRY MORAN, Kansas BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts
MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee GARY PETERS, Michigan
TODD YOUNG, Indiana TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
TED BUDD, North Carolina TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
ERIC SCHMITT, Missouri JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
JOHN CURTIS, Utah BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico
BERNIE MORENO, Ohio JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado
TIM SHEEHY, Montana JOHN FETTERMAN, Pennsylvania
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia ANDY KIM, New Jersey
CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER, Delaware
Brad Grantz, Republican Staff Director
Nicole Christus, Republican Deputy Staff Director
Liam McKenna, General Counsel
Lila Harper Helms, Staff Director
Melissa Porter, Deputy Staff Director
Jonathan Hale, General Counsel
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held on January 29, 2025................................. 1
Statement of Senator Cruz........................................ 1
Letter dated January 2, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Heidi Brock, President and Chief Executive
Officer, American Forest & Paper Association............... 100
Letter dated January 21, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Nick Catino, Global Head of Policy, Deel..... 101
Letter dated January 22, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz from Todd
Schlekeway, President and CEO, NATE: The Communications
Infrastructure Contractors Association..................... 102
Letter dated January 24, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Mat Dunn, Senior Director, Global Business
and Government Afairs, SpaceX.............................. 102
Letter dated January 24, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Grant Spellmeyer, President and CEO, ACA
Connects--America's Communications Association............. 103
Letter dated January 24, 2025 to the Senators from Heather R.
Higgins, CEO, Independent Women's Voice. and Carrie Lukas,
Vice President, Independent Women's Voice.................. 103
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz from Chet
Thompson, President and CEO, American Fuel & Petrochemical
Manufacturers.............................................. 104
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Chairman Ted Cruz from Mike
Sommers, President and CEO, American Petroleum Institute... 104
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Chairman Ted Cruz and
Ranking Member Maria Cantwell from Dave Cavossa, President,
Commercial Space Federation................................ 105
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA--The Wireless
Association................................................ 105
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Philip K. Bell, President, Steel
Manufacturers Association.................................. 106
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Shirley Bloomfield, Chief Executive Officer,
NTCA--The Rural Broadband Association...................... 107
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Jonathan Spalter, President and Chief
Executive Officer, USTelecom--The Broadband Association.... 108
Letter dated January 27, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz from Robert S
Fisher, SVP, Federal Government Relations & Public Affairs,
Verizon.................................................... 108
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Kevin W. Keane, President and CEO, American
Beverage Association....................................... 109
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Chis Jahn, President and CEO, American
Chemistry Council.......................................... 109
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Commerce Committee from
Nathan Leamer, Executive Director, Digital First Project... 110
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Jonathan Samford, President and CEO, Global
Business Alliance.......................................... 110
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from American Sportfishing Association, BoatUS,
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Center for Sportfishing Policy,
Coastal Conservation Association, International Game Fish
Association, Marine Retailers Association of the Americas,
and National Marine Manufacturers Association.............. 111
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Tom Stroup, President, Satellite Industry
Association................................................ 112
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Morgan Reed, President, ACT | The App
Association................................................ 112
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from David French, Executive Vice President,
Government Relations, National Retail Federation........... 113
Letter dated January 28, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Carl Holshouser, Executive Vice President,
TechNet.................................................... 114
Letter dated January 29, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Craig Albright, Senior Vice President,
Business Software Alliance................................. 115
Letter dated January 29, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Clay Mowry, CEO, American Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics............................... 115
Letter dated January 29, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Brian Pomper, Executive Director, Innovation
Alliance................................................... 116
Letter dated January 29, 2025 to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria
Cantwell from Michael K. Powell, President and CEO, NCTA--
The Internet & Television Association...................... 118
Prepared Statement from Alliance for the Future.............. 118
Letter to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria Cantwell from Chief Al
Gillespie (Ret), President, PSBTA.......................... 119
Letter to Hon. Ted Cruz and Hon. Maria Cantwell from Edward
G. Atsinger III, Cofounder/Executive Chairman of the Board,
Salem Media Group; and David P. Santrella, Chief Executive
Officer, Salem Media Group................................. 119
Statement of Senator Cantwell.................................... 2
Statement of Senator Thune....................................... 4
Statement of Senator Klobuchar................................... 50
Statement of Senator Wicker...................................... 52
Statement of Senator Schatz...................................... 54
Statement of Senator Fischer..................................... 55
Statement of Senator Baldwin..................................... 57
Statement of Senator Moran....................................... 59
Statement of Senator Markey...................................... 61
Statement of Senator Sullivan.................................... 62
Statement of Senator Peters...................................... 64
Statement of Senator Blackburn................................... 66
Statement of Senator Duckworth................................... 67
Statement of Senator Young....................................... 69
Statement of Senator Rosen....................................... 71
Statement of Senator Budd........................................ 73
Statement of Senator Kim......................................... 75
Statement of Senator Schmitt..................................... 76
Statement of Senator Blunt Rochester............................. 78
Statement of Senator Sheehy...................................... 80
Statement of Senator Lujan....................................... 82
Statement of Senator Curtis...................................... 84
Statement of Senator Hickenlooper................................ 86
Statement of Senator Lummis...................................... 88
Statement of Senator Moreno...................................... 89
Witnesses
Hon. J. D. Vance, Vice President of the United States............ 5
Howard Lutnick, Nominee to be Secretary, U.S. Department of
Commerce....................................................... 7
Prepared statement........................................... 9
Biographical information..................................... 10
Appendix
Response to written questions submitted to Howard Lutnick by:
Hon. Roger Wicker............................................ 121
Hon. Jerry Moran............................................. 123
Hon. Tim Sheehy.............................................. 128
Hon. Dan Sullivan............................................ 129
Hon. Todd Young.............................................. 134
Hon. Ted Budd................................................ 135
Hon. Eric Schmitt............................................ 136
Hon. Shelley Moore Capito.................................... 137
Hon. Maria Cantwell.......................................... 138
Hon. Amy Klobuchar........................................... 153
Hon. Edward Markey........................................... 154
Hon. Gary Peters............................................. 156
Hon. Tammy Baldwin........................................... 159
Hon. Tammy Duckworth......................................... 161
Hon. Jacky Rosen............................................. 162
Hon. Ben Ray Lujan........................................... 162
Hon. John Hickenlooper....................................... 163
Hon. John Fetterman.......................................... 167
Hon. Lisa Blunt Rochester.................................... 168
NOMINATION OF HOWARD LUTNICK,
NOMINEE TO BE SECRETARY,
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
----------
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2025
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:18 a.m., in
room SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman of the Committee, presiding.
Present: Senators Cruz [presiding], Thune, Wicker, Fischer,
Moran, Sullivan, Blackburn, Young, Budd, Schmitt, Curtis,
Moreno, Sheehy, Lummis, Cantwell, Klobuchar, Schatz, Markey,
Peters, Baldwin, Duckworth, Rosen, Lujan, Hickenlooper, Kim,
and Blunt Rochester.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. TED CRUZ,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TEXAS
The Chairman. I just want to make the Chairman of the
Senate Armed Services Committee feel at home. I figure things
that go bang, naturally make him feel welcome.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome. The Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation will come to order.
Today, we are considering the nomination of Howard Lutnick
to be the next Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick,
congratulations on this important nomination. I know there are
many members of this committee that are interested in hearing
from you today.
As Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Lutnick will be responsible
not only for implementing major aspects of President Trump's
agenda, but also effectively and efficiently carrying out some
of the most sweeping laws Congress has passed in the last few
years, like the CHIPS and Science Act. Mr. Lutnick is well
qualified to accomplish this mission.
Mr. Lutnick's story embodies the American spirit of
resilience and achievement. The son of a history professor and
an artist, Mr. Lutnick was born and raised in New York. He lost
both of his parents by the time he was 18, and he put himself
through Haverford College, with the help of a generous
scholarship from the school. Immediately after graduating, he
started at Cantor Fitzgerald, one of the world's leading
financial services firms, becoming its Chairman at just 35
years old.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists killed Mr. Lutnick's
brother, Gary, and 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees, who were
working on five floors in the North Tower of the World Trade
Center. It was the largest loss of life among any single
organization on that tragic day. In the wake of that tragedy,
Mr. Lutnick not only rebuilt the company, but he grew it into a
powerhouse, with operations in more than 60 offices in 20
countries and over 13,000 employees.
Mr. Lutnick has also given back in incredible ways. For
five years following the 9/11 attacks, he ensured the families
of the Cantor Fitzgerald employees who were killed received 25
percent of the company's profits.
He still donates his time today as a member of the Board of
Directors of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. He
also served on the board of Haverford College for over 20 years
and made generous gifts to the school, including an athletic
center, in honor of his brother and friend who died on 9/11,
and an art gallery, in honor of his mother who was an artist.
Over the next few years, the Department will be leading on
key issues, such as export controls of emerging technologies,
keeping the Gulf open for oil and gas exploration, expanding
commercial access to mid-band spectrum, and ensuring America's
leadership in AI innovation and commercial space, and helping
lead the resurgence of manufacturing in America.
My home state of Texas, as well as the rest of the nation,
will benefit from Mr. Lutnick's leadership on all these fronts.
I look forward to hearing from Mr. Lutnick on these and other
topics.
And I now turn to Ranking Member Cantwell for her opening
statement.
STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON
Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I would like
to associate myself with your remarks because they are very
similar to the ones that I was going to make as it relates to
the charge of a Commerce Secretary. Mr. Lutnick, welcome today.
We look forward to hearing your testimony. Welcome to your
family. And as Senator Cruz says, you have a very compelling
story. As I expressed when I met you, your resiliency as an
individual is truly amazing.
The Secretary of Commerce has the vital responsibility and
a very broad mission agency with lots of complex issues that
affect many sectors of the economy. That is the challenge here.
And as my colleague just mentioned, one of those, top of the
list, is the Bureau of Industry and Security, which implements
export control on dual-use technology for both commercial and
military or proliferation applications.
So this responsibility just got a lot bigger yesterday when
we saw an announcement from China that took $600 billion out of
the valuation of a leading American company overnight. The
issue of export controls and this organization, BIS, within the
Department of Commerce, is going to be a very big issue for
you.
I want to say that I very much appreciate the former
Commerce Secretary, Secretary Raimondo. I think she really was
a standout in implementing the policies that Senator Cruz just
mentioned, but also in trying to build consensus among the
private sector of how to deal with these export issues. I hope
you will follow that lead.
But in addition to this AI challenge that we face, the
President, in his January 20, 2025, memorandum on America First
trade policy, directs you, the Secretary of Commerce, to work
with the Secretary of State on the review of those export
controls and to advise on modifications in light of
developments with strategic adversaries and geopolitical
rivals. So an additional, if you will, a nod to the President
as saying that Howard Lutnick is the guy that has to determine
these export control issues.
Vital agreements between, I think, the Department of
Commerce and the private sector to ensure a vital advanced
semiconductor manufacturing sector returns to the United States
as soon as possible is a big priority for this committee. I am
glad to hear that Chairman Cruz mentioned it, because states
like Texas, Ohio, Arizona, New York, and many others on the
applications of grants through the Department of Commerce are
counting on that continued support to make sure that this
agenda gets done, that we are bringing the manufacturing supply
chain of semiconductors and semiconductor advanced chips, back
to the United States as fast as possible. So we look forward to
hearing your comments on that.
You'll also oversee the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, charged by Congress to manage
spectrum sharing across all government agencies. The two people
to my left, Senator Klobuchar and Senator Thune, I cannot think
of two bigger leaders on the 5G, 6G, how is it going to get
done, and when is it going to get done. But you will be tasked
with that very difficult challenge and negotiating between NTIA
and DoD, and our international efforts at the world radio
spectrum.
You will also oversee the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, 60 percent of the Commerce budget. I will never
forget in a hearing, Mr. Chairman, when then-Secretary of
Commerce Ron Brown said, ``I am the Secretary of Commerce. I
oversee maritime and shipping and transportation and technology
and telecom. But I guarantee you if a Member of Congress is
calling me, he is calling me about fish.''
[Laughter.]
Senator Cantwell. And that says it all. Amen to that, as my
colleague just said.
So the point is, no matter all the busyness that you are
now given by the President of the United States on these very
important issues--and I would say, in my opinion, this is not
the Secretary of Commerce of 20 years ago. No demeaning of the
roles that they played for either administration, but the
Secretary of Commerce today is now part of a critical
consensus-building in a footrace of competition with China, and
determining what those rules are going to be.
And I do not believe that you can get there without the
consensus bodybuilding that we did on CHIPS and Science. That
exercise helped us. A lot of people might have thought we were
just trying to pass an initiative. I was not. I was trying to
respond to our Nation's competitive challenge, and I would have
done anything to work together to make sure that that happened.
And so you will be in charge of all of these things. Oh,
and my colleague, the Chairman, mentioned space. I guarantee
you there is a lot of work to be done in space, and you will be
called to provide leadership with the new space office within
the Department of Commerce.
So the complexities, you are going to be a decision-maker
on a lot of rules, which leads me to this next point.
I am going to have a lot of questions about your
involvement in the private sector. In the private sector, I am
sure you played by the rules. We will ask you those questions.
But the question is, you are going to be on the other side of
the table now. You are going to be the rulemaker. So I am going
to want to understand the issues of Tether, the issues of one-
to-one, the issues of how we set rules. Because I think the
President also gave you a new responsibility as it related to
the crypto rules. And I am a fan of blockchain technology and
of crypto. I am a little more on the CFTC side than I am on the
SEC side. But, in general, I believe that markets need rules,
and I believe that people in your position are going to have to
play an even larger leadership role. So those are the questions
I will be asking.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you, and as demonstration that you are
a Big Cheese, Mr. Lutnick, you are to be introduced by the Vice
President of the United States, and as I am reliably informed,
he is about 3 minutes out.
So we are going to do something in the Senate we are quite
familiar with, which is filibuster.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. And I took the Chairman's prerogative to ask
the Senate Majority Leader if he could fill three minutes with
words of wisdom. So I recognize Senator Thune to say whatever
the hell he wants.
[Laughter.]
STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN THUNE,
U.S. SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA
Senator Thune. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly cannot
fill 3 minutes with words of wisdom. But as is true in the
Senate, I can fill it with words. But let me just say
congratulations, Mr. Lutnick. Welcome. We are excited to have
you nominated for this important position. And as you shared in
your--you will share, and as the Chairman shared, your very
powerful and compelling life story. And it truly is an example
of the American success story and somebody who has been able to
live and pursue and experience the American dream in the midst
of a lot of adversity along the way.
So thank you for being here today and for your willingness
to share your skill and your experience at a job that requires
a lot of that.
I hope that, and I expect you will touch on this today, one
of the issues that we worked a lot on is spectrum. And
obviously we need more spectrum, licensed and unlicensed. You
will oversee the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, or NTIA, which is housed under the Department
of Commerce, and manages the government's use of spectrum. And
I look forward to working with you to ensure that the Federal
Government is using spectrum efficiently and in a way that
addresses the needs that we have for more commercial use in
both licensed and unlicensed technologies.
I expect you to address the NTIA Broadband Equity, Access,
and Deployment Program, which provides over $42 billion, but as
we know has not connected a single household. And there is a
reason for that, and it is because it is focused on all the
wrong things, instead of actually building broadband out into
unserved areas.
So those are a couple of areas I expect that you will
address. And I see my time to filibuster has ended. We look
forward to working with you on AI. It is a critical issue, and
under this committee's jurisdiction. So welcome, thank you, and
we wish you the best as you move forward.
The Chairman. A predictably excellent job, Leader Thune. I
think your remarks were spectrum good--we like, want more--all
of which I enthusiastically agree.
And we are now very pleased to welcome the Vice President
of the United States, an august title, but equally august as a
former member of the Senator Committee of Commerce, Science,
and Transportation. So Vice President Vance, we are glad to
welcome you back to your committee, and with that recognize you
to introduce Mr. Lutnick.
STATEMENT OF HON. J. D. VANCE,
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Vice President Vance. Great. Well, good morning, Mr.
Chairman, Ranking Member Cantwell. And I see Senator Curtis has
my old chair, so hopefully you have as much fun as I did and do
as much good as I tried to do. Senator Moreno, and all the
members of the Committee, I am thrilled to be here, and I am
thrilled to introduce my dear friend, Howard Lutnick, who I
think is going to make an amazing Commerce Secretary for the
United States of America.
You know, one of my mentors in business always said that
any good business has both product people and sales people, and
Howard is one of the few people who is both a product guy and a
sales guy. And I want to talk about that because I think that
America, as Commerce Secretary, needs a Commerce Secretary who
is both a product guy and a sales guy.
And what do I mean by that? If you look at his career,
Howard is the kind of guy who developed innovative products. He
has a number of patents to his name, something I did not even
know when I first got to know Howard, but I learned later. But
he is also an incredible sales guy. This is a person who, on
the world stage, will say more and do more and convince
businesses that America is back, that America is growing and
thriving, and I think that will inure to the benefit, most
importantly, of American workers who have seen their wages
stagnate, their real living standards decline. And Howard is
exactly the kind of guy that we need to reverse that trend and
get American commerce back on track.
Howard is, more than anybody maybe that I have ever met in
the private sector, aware, in part because of the fact that he
did not grow up with everything handed to him, of the way in
which what happens in the real economy affects real people, and
that if we have a thriving, growing economy we are going to
have a stronger national security because we make more of our
own stuff. We are also going to have an American workforce that
is thriving, that is healthy, that is happy, and of course,
that is what we are ultimately, I think, all of us here on the
Commerce Committee, most focused on.
Howard is a force of nature. For those of you who do not
know him, and for the employees of the Commerce Department, I
will say, with all apologies, you are going to work harder over
the next 4 years than you probably have ever worked in your
entire life. Howard is the kind of guy who can have you work 90
hours a week and make you feel like you are still energetic at
the end of the day because he is working 110 hours a week, and
he never lets his foot off the gas, and he never forgets what
the mission is that drives him to do all of the incredible
things that he has done and that he will do, as Commerce
Secretary.
Now, I want to say a couple of words about Howard's
biography because I think it influences certainly how I think
about him, and I think it informs, hopefully, how all of you
will think about his nomination. This is not a guy who was
handed everything. He grew up in a family where they often
struggled to make ends meet. He built one of the most
successful and biggest financial firms in the world, and, of
course, had it all destroyed by terrorist on 9/11/2001.
Now, Howard did not die that day. He lost 600 employees,
including, I believe, your brother, Howard. But he did not die
that day because he took his son to kindergarten on the Upper
East Side, and so he was not in the towers when the planes hit.
But what he did in the wake of it is maybe more impressive
than what he did before. One, he rebuilt the business to where
it is today, again, one of the great financial firms in the
entire world. But more importantly than that, he did not forget
the families of the employees who lost their lives that day.
And I will never forget, talk about a good salesman. When I
visited New York on the anniversary of 9/11 during the
campaign--and as you all know, campaigns are very busy; there
is a lot going on--and Howard said, ``JD, you need to come by
my office because on 9/11 every day, and we have done it since
2001, we raise money for the families of the people who lost
their lives that day.'' And I said, ``Howard, this is the
middle of a Presidential campaign. Man, I am the vice
Presidential nominee.'' And he said, ``No, no. You are coming.
Trust me, you are coming.''
And I showed up on the trading floor of Cantor Fitzgerald
and every single person was selling and working their tails
off, not to make money for Howard Lutnick or the business that
day, but to make money for the relief efforts and the families
who they still take care of, what is it now, 24 years later.
And that is an incredible testament to a guy who does not
forget where he came from, who does not forget the people that
he lost that day, and I cannot think of a better person to be
the Commerce Secretary than a person who is a product guy, who
is a sales guy, and who is an incredible human being, who does
not forget the employees that he lost that day.
And I want to make one final observation. Howard has a
beautiful family, and it is good to see all the kids here and
his lovely wife. On the campaign trail, as you all know, I have
three little kids, and I like to take my kids with me on the
campaign trail whenever possible because I am a dad first. And
as you also may know, when you have little kids, sometimes
little kids do not behave all the time. In fact, they often do
not behave.
And I remember when we took our kids to Howard's house on
the campaign trail, when we actually had a fundraiser that
evening in a different place, but we had a few hours. And I
told my wife, I said, ``We are going to take the kids to my
buddy's house, Howard Lutnick's house.'' And she said, ``You
know, do you really want to take our three kids, energetic,
wound up, to somebody's house? They are going to destroy
something. They are going to embarrass us.'' And I said,
``Howard's house, his wife's house, yes, actually.''
And we spent the morning with them. We spent the afternoon
with them. And then we went to our event. And I will never
forget afterwards my wife looked at me and said, ``We felt like
the kids could just be kids.'' Even though they did not know
Howard, and even though Howard did not know them, he was a good
enough guy to make it possible for our kids to just be kids.
And I think that it is important to have the kind of person
at Commerce who cannot just do the job, because Howard can
certainly do the job, who has not just been wildly successful,
because, of course, Howard has been wildly successful, but is
just a good dude. And Howard is a good dude. He will make us
proud as our next Commerce Secretary, but he makes me even
prouder to call him a friend. God bless you, man.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. Mr. Vice President, thank you. Welcome back.
And I will say to all the employees at the Commerce Department,
you must be very pleased to know that your incoming Secretary
will be just fine if you break something or crayon on the walls
or spill your grape juice. You can do all of those at the
Department of Commerce.
And with that I recognize Mr. Lutnick for his opening
remarks.
STATEMENT OF HOWARD LUTNICK, NOMINEE TO BE SECRETARY, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Mr. Lutnick. Thank you, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member
Cantwell, and members of the Committee, and thank you, JD, Mr.
Vice President, for your kind introduction. I deeply appreciate
our friendship and that he was able to join me today.
I am profoundly grateful to President Trump for the
confidence and faith he has placed in me. It is an honor to
appear before you as your nominee for Secretary of Commerce.
My family is here with me today. I would like to introduce
you to my wife Allison, who is sitting behind me, who for 30
years has been my great partner, advisor, and a spectacular
mother to our wonderful children, my oldest son, Kyle, behind
me, Brandon, Casey, and Ryan. My extraordinary sister Edie is
also here, as well as Allison's brother Rick, my sister-in-law
Abbi, and many of my closest friends have chosen to come down
to support me.
I grew up on Long Island, New York. My mother was an
artist, as you said, and an art teacher. My father was a
professor of American History.
My mother Jane taught me how to appreciate life. When I was
14, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, but she decided if
she was going to die before then she was going to live. I will
never forget the day she pulled me out of class. So I rushed to
the car and said, ``Are you OK?'' And she said, ``I am OK.
Let's go.'' We drove to New York City, we went to art
galleries, then we went to the opera, we went to a late-night
dinner, got home super late, and of course she expected me to
get up and get to school on time the next day.
My mother died in February 1978, when I was 16 years old.
A year and a half later, my father was diagnosed with lung
cancer. He kept his diagnosis a secret from me, because he
wanted to make sure I left to start college in the fall. He
dropped me off at school and a week later He went for his first
chemotherapy treatment at our local hospital. The nurse
accidentally gave him the wrong dose and he died right then and
there. It was September 12, 1979, and I was 18 years old.
So we all know losing one parent is heartbreaking, but
losing both is something entirely different. It is life
shattering.
Without any support from our extended family, Edie and I
put my 15-year-old brother into boarding school right near my
college, and he would sleep with me in my dorm room on the
weekends. The next year, Gary moved up to live with my sister,
and spent the next two years living with her, while she earned
her law and business degrees.
The three of us became inseparable, but as you can imagine,
the pain we suffered when Gary and 657 of my other friends and
colleagues at Cantor Fitzgerald were killed on 9/11.
The company was located on the top five floors of the World
Trade Center--I still cannot say it out loud. I get emotional.
Sorry--but no one in the office survived. I was taking my son,
Kyle, to his first day of kindergarten, which is why I am with
you today.
The company was destroyed, but on September 12th, I hosted
a call with my surviving employees and I laid out two choices
for them: we could either attend our friends' funerals--that is
20 funerals a day for 33 straight days--or we could try to
rebuild the company to take care of the 658 families that we
lost that day.
So this phone call led to one of the most extraordinary
events in American business history. All of our employees, both
new and those that survived, agreed to donate 25 percent of
their salaries--their salaries--to the families of our 9/11
colleagues. So together, we raised them $180 million over the
next 5 years for those families, and my employees, they
stitched my soul back together.
My employees never expected to get paid back, but I had
other ideas. In 2008, we took a division of our company public,
and I gave each and every one of those employees double what
they had given to those families.
I worked at Cantor my entire career, 41 years, and
rebuilding the company over the past 24 years is my greatest
business achievement. After 9/11, we were down to about 1,000
employees. Today, the company employs more than 14,000. I am so
proud of my exceptional friends at Cantor, BGC, and Newmark.
I saw the strength of the American spirit during President
Trump's campaign, and it fueled my desire to serve our Nation.
We need healthy businesses--small, medium, and large--to hire
our great American workers to drive our economy. I will
dedicate myself to making our government more responsive,
working to ensure Americans have the greatest opportunity for
success.
I am an outcome-driven leader, and upon my confirmation, I
will take a thoughtful and rigorous approach to leading this
great department and serving our country.
Thank you, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I look forward to
taking your questions.
[The prepared statement and biographical information of Mr.
Lutnick follow:]
Prepared Statement of Howard W. Lutnick,
Nominee to be Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
Thank you, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell, and Members of
the Committee. I am profoundly grateful to President Trump for the
confidence and faith he has placed in me. It is an honor to appear
before you to be considered as the nominee for Secretary of Commerce.
My family is here with me today. I would like to introduce you to
my wife, Allison, who for 30 years has been my great partner, advisor
and a spectacular mother to our four wonderful children, Kyle, Brandon,
Casey and Ryan. My extraordinary sister Edie is also here, as well as
Allison's brother Rick, my sister-in-law Abbi, and several of my
closest friends.
I grew up on Long Island, New York. My mother was an artist and art
teacher. My father was a Professor of American History.
My mother, Jane, taught me how to appreciate life. When I was 14,
she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and she decided she was going to
really LIVE. I'll never forget the day she pulled me out of class. I
rushed to her car to make certain she was okay. She smiled and said,
``Let's go!'' We drove to New York City--she took me to art galleries
and the opera, and we ended up having a really late dinner before
driving home. Of course, she expected me to be on time for school the
next morning. My mother died in February 1978. I was 16.
A year and a half later, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer.
He kept his diagnosis a secret from me, as I was leaving to start
college. He dropped me off at school and a week later went for his
first chemotherapy treatment at our local hospital. The nurse
accidentally gave him the wrong dose and he died right then and there.
It was September 12, 1979. I was 18.
Losing one parent is heartbreaking, losing both is entirely
different--it's life shattering.
Without any support from our extended family, Edie and I put our
15-year-old brother Gary into boarding school near my college and he
slept in my dorm room on the weekends. The next year, Gary lived with
Edie, while she earned her law and business degrees.
The three of us were inseparable, so you can imagine the pain we
suffered when Gary and 657 of my other friends and colleagues at Cantor
Fitzgerald were killed on 9/11. The company was located on the top 5
floors of the World Trade Center and no one in the office survived. I
was taking Kyle to his first day of kindergarten, which is why I am
with you today.
The company was destroyed. On September 12th, I hosted a call with
my surviving employees and laid out two choices: we could either attend
our friends' funerals--there were 20 funerals a day for 33 straight
days--or we could try to rebuild the company to take care of the 658
families that lost a loved one.
This phone call led to one of the most extraordinary events in
business history. All of our employees, both new and those that
survived, agreed to donate 25 percent of their salaries to the families
of our 9/11 colleagues. Together, we gave them $180 million over the
next 5 years, which stitched my soul back together.
My employees never expected to get paid back, but I had other
ideas. In 2008, we took a division of our company public and each
employee received double what they had given.
I worked at Cantor Fitzgerald my entire career--41 years. And
rebuilding the company over the past 24 years is my greatest business
achievement. After 9/11, we were down to about 1,000 employees. Now,
the company employs more than 14,000. I am so proud of my exceptional
friends and colleagues at Cantor Fitzgerald, Newmark and BGC.
I saw the strength of the American spirit during President Trump's
campaign, and it fueled my desire to serve our Nation.
We need healthy businesses--small, medium, and large--to hire our
great American workers to drive our economy. I will dedicate myself to
making our government more responsive, working to ensure Americans have
the greatest opportunity for success.
I am an outcome-driven leader and upon confirmation, I will take a
thoughtful and rigorous approach to leading this great department and
serving our country.
Thank you, and I look forward to taking your questions.
______
a. biographical information
1. Name (Include any former names or nicknames used): Howard W.
Lutnick.
2. Position to which nominated: United States Secretary of
Commerce.
3. Date of Nomination: November 19, 2024.
4. Address (List current place of residence and office addresses):
Residence: Information not released to the public.
Office: Information not provided.
5. Date and Place of Birth: July 14, 1961; Manhasset, New York.
6. Provide the name, position, and place of employment for your
spouse (if married) or domestic partner, and the names and ages of your
children (including stepchildren and children by a previous marriage).
Allison Lutnick--Employment: N/A
Kyle Lutnick (28), Brandon Lutnick (26), Casey Lutnick (24),
Ryan Lutnick (19).
7. List all college and graduate schools attended, whether or not
you were granted a degree by the institution. Provide the name of the
institution, the dates attended, the degree received, and the date of
the degree.
Haverford College, B.A. Economics 1979-1983
8. List all post-undergraduate employment, including the job title,
name of employer, and inclusive dates of employment, and highlight all
management-level jobs held and any non-managerial jobs that relate to
the position for which you are nominated.
Employed by Cantor Fitzgerald since 1983.
Started career as a broker and trader.
Promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer in 1991 and
named Chairman in 1996.
(https://www.cantor.com/leadership/howard-lutnick/)
Mr. Lutnick joined Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983 and rose rapidly
through the ranks to be appointed President and CEO in 1991.
Five years later he was named Chairman. In 2004, Cantor
Fitzgerald separated out its voice brokerage business to create
BGC Partners L.P, in which Mr. Lutnick was the Chairman and
CEO. In 2008, Mr. Lutnick led the merger of BGC and eSpeed,
forming BGC Partners, Inc. In 2011, BGC completed its
acquisition of Newmark, and subsequently invested heavily in
the growth of the commercial real estate services business.
Newmark completed its IPO in 2017 and the Spin-Off from BGC in
2018. Mr. Lutnick holds the title of Executive Chairman.
9. Attach a copy of your resume.
See Attached--Annex A
10. List any advisory, consultative, honorary, or other part-time
service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other
than those listed above after 18 years of age.
I did not hold any advisory, consultative, honorary, or other part-
time service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments.
However, Cantor Fitzgerald provided services that could be considered
``consultative'' to the U.S. Navy prior to 2001.
11. List all positions held as an officer, director, trustee,
partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or consultant of any
corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business, enterprise,
educational, or other institution.
See Attached--Annex B through Annex F
12. List all memberships you have had after 18 years of age or
currently hold with any civic, social, charitable, educational,
political, professional, fraternal, benevolent or religiously
affiliated organization, private club, or other membership organization
(You do not have to list your religious affiliation or membership in a
religious house of worship or institution). Include dates of membership
and any positions you have held with any organization. Please note
whether any such club or organization restricts membership on the basis
of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability.
September 11th Memorial and Museum
Board of Trustees--2006 to present
Partnership for New York City
Board of Directors--2011 to present
Weil Cornell Medicine
Board Fellow--May 2023 to present
Horace Mann School
Board Member--2003-June 2024
Haverford College
Board of Managers--1994-2006
Vice-Chair, Board of Managers--2006-2012
Chair of the Board of Managers--2012-2015
Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation
Board of Trustees--2001-2021
Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum
Board of Trustees--1995-April 2016
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Foundation
Board of Trustees--2000-February 2016
Hoover Institute
Board of Overseers--2017-August 2022
Metropolitan Club of New York
Golf Clubs:
The Saint Andrew's Golf Club (New York)
The Bridge (New York)
Metedeconk National Golf Club (New Jersey)
La Gorce Country Club (Florida)
Shell Bay Club (Florida)
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Virginia)
13. Have you ever been a candidate for and/or held a public office
(elected, non-elected, or appointed)? If so, indicate whether any
campaign has any outstanding debt, the amount, and whether you are
personally liable for that debt. None.
14. List all memberships and offices held with and services
rendered to, whether compensated or not, any political party or
election committee within the past ten years. If you have held a paid
position or served in a formal or official advisory position (whether
compensated or not) in a political campaign within the past ten years,
identify the particulars of the campaign, including the candidate, year
of the campaign, and your title and responsibilities.
Co-Chair, Trump Vance 2025 Transition, Inc. (2024)
15. Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign
organization, political party, political action committee, or similar
entity of $200 or more for the past ten years.
See Attached--Annex G
16. List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, honorary
society memberships, military medals, and any other special recognition
for outstanding service or achievements.
The Financial Times' Person of the Year (2001)
Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award (the
highest Navy award for non-military personnel)
Ernst & Young's United States Entrepreneur of the Year (2010)
Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation Honoree (2012)
FDNY Foundation Humanitarian Award (2013)
Intercollegiate Tennis Association Achievement Award (2017)
Honored by dozens of other charities and organizations
17. List all books, articles, columns, letters to the editor,
Internet blog postings, or other publications you have authored,
individually or with others. Include a link to each publication when
possible. If a link is not available, provide a digital copy of the
publication when available.
Contributor to ``On Top of the World: Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard
Lutnick, & 9/11: A Story of Loss & Renewal''--Biography by Tom
Barbash
Contributor to ``Out of the Clear Blue Sky''--Documentary Film
by Danielle Gardner
18. List all speeches, panel discussions, and presentations (e.g.,
PowerPoint) that you have given on topics relevant to the position for
which you have been nominated. Include a link to each publication when
possible. If a link is not available, provide a digital copy of the
speech or presentation when available. None.
19. List all public statements you have made during the past ten
years, including statements in news articles and radio and podcasts and
television appearances, which are on topics relevant to the position
for which you have been nominated, including dates. Include a link to
each statement when possible. If a link is not available, provide a
digital copy of the statement when available.
See Attached--Annex H
20. List all digital platforms (including social media and other
digital content sites) on which you currently or have formerly operated
an account, regardless of whether or not the account was held in your
name or an alias. Include the full name of an ``alias'' or ``handle'',
including the complete URL and username with hyperlinks, you have used
on each of the named platforms. Indicate whether the account is active,
deleted, or dormant. Include a link to each account if possible.
See Attached--Annex I
21. Please identify each instance in which you have testified
orally or in writing before Congress in a governmental or non-
governmental capacity and specify the date, committee, and subject
matter of each testimony.
None in the last ten years
22. Given the current mission, major programs, and major
operational objectives of the department/agency/commission/corporation
to which you have been nominated, what in your background or employment
experience do you believe affirmatively qualifies you for appointment
to the position for which you have been nominated, and why do you wish
to serve in that position?
Throughout my decades of executive leadership experience as
Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, Chairman and CEO of BGC Group,
and Executive Chairman of Newmark Group, I have guided these companies
through dynamic and complex market environments. Some of the situations
they faced presented tremendous challenges, and it was through my
leadership and unwavering support for my employees that we successfully
turned these challenges into opportunities, fostering incredible growth
for the companies and enabling teams to achieve remarkable outcomes. My
experiences leading these incredible organizations provide me with a
strong foundation to succeed as Secretary of Commerce.
The global reach across these companies has equipped me with deep
knowledge of and appreciation for international perspectives, enabling
me to bring global insight to best foster innovation and enhance
competitiveness for the United States. This global perspective enables
me to bring forward-thinking solutions that resonate across our markets
and industries. My experience gives me deep insights into global trade,
cross-border markets and economic trends--key areas overseen by the
Department of Commerce.
Leading global enterprises that specialize and operate large-scale
databases, data collection, and advanced analytics, I bring a deep
understanding of how to modernize systems and drive efficiency at the
highest levels--something I look forward to doing for the Department of
Commerce and the Government of the United States.
Additionally, I possess expertise and knowledge working with the
Patent and Trademark Office, as an inventor personally familiar with
the patent process. Navigating the PTO first-hand provided me with
insights into optimizing and supporting our intellectual property
systems. As Secretary of Commerce, I will enhance and protect American
innovation to further drive economic growth.
I believe the breadth of my experience working in the financial
services and real estate industries, the scale and success of my
companies across business cycles, and ability to persevere through the
most difficult circumstances that a company could ever face positions
me to be a very successful Secretary of Commerce. I look forward to
working for the President of the United States and the American people
to drive economic growth, productivity, and innovation for our country.
23. What do you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to
ensure that the department/agency/commission/corporation has proper
management and accounting controls, and what experience do you have in
managing a large organization?
I have more than 30 years of experience serving as Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of multiple large private and publicly listed
companies. Taken together, the companies that I manage employ more than
13,000 professionals today, having rebuilt ourselves entirely since the
devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
I spent decades building and growing these great companies. Each
has successfully grown on the pillars of strong financial oversight,
superior operational efficiency, and a focused management structure.
On September 11, 2001, Cantor Fitzgerald endured one of the most
harrowing challenges in human history. Our firm, headquartered on the
101st to 105th floors of the North Tower of the World Trade Center,
suffered an unimaginable loss--658 of our 960 New York-based employees
tragically perished in the devastating terrorist attacks. Rising from
this unparalleled tragedy demanded extraordinary resolve and
determination. Rebuilding our firm required a relentless commitment to
recruiting top-tier talent, enforcing rigorous accountability,
reconstructing financial controls, implementing new technology, and
fostering a culture defined by camaraderie, compassion, and unwavering
professionalism.
At BGC Group, I led the company's transformation into a multi-
billion-dollar, publicly traded global financial brokerage, technology,
and data company. Driving this evolution, I played a pivotal role in
spearheading strategic expansion initiatives, overseeing acquisitions
that were critical to our growth, and strengthening financial controls
to ensure operational excellence.
At Newmark, we achieved extraordinary growth, expanding our
revenues ten-fold over the past 13 years. Today, Newmark is a multi-
billion-dollar public company and a leader in the commercial real
estate services industry. I successfully oversaw the firm's
transformative growth, streamlined operational processes, and embedded
rigorous financial oversight across the organization.
As Secretary of Commerce, I will prioritize the following
principles to uphold the integrity and efficiency of the department:
1. Strong Governance and Oversight:
Establish clear policies and procedures to ensure
compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical
standards.
Implement a robust internal audit system to
proactively identify risks and inefficiencies.
2. Accountability and Transparency:
Create a culture where accountability takes center
stage, ensuring every team member understands their
responsibility to uphold the highest standards of
integrity.
3. Technology and Modernization:
Implement and leverage modern software and
technologies to streamline operations, enhance data
collection and accuracy, and improve decision-making across
the organization.
Ensure the department is equipped with systems capable
of tracking, monitoring, and reporting activities with
precision.
My management experience has taught me the importance of
establishing clear structures, enforcing disciplined practices, and
upholding a steadfast ethical foundation. Upon my confirmation, I will
bring the same rigor and commitment to ensuring the department operates
with the highest standards of management and accountability.
24. What do you believe to be the top three challenges facing the
department/agency/commission/corporation, and why?
To effectively support the President's vision and address the
critical needs of the American people, the Department of Commerce must
take the necessary steps to address three key challenges. This will be
critical to reinforcing our country's economic strength and securing
its future prosperity.
1. Data and Analytics--The Department of Commerce must significantly
improve its approach to data capture, database management, and
data analytics. Currently, there is a critical need to
modernize how information is collected, organized, and utilized
to address the Nation's challenges effectively. By enhancing
data analytics capabilities, the government can transform vast
amounts of information into actionable insights, enabling
departments to operate with greater efficiency and
effectiveness to support the needs of the American people. This
transformation is essential to not only streamline decision-
making, but also to align departmental actions with the
strategic goals and objectives of the President of the United
States.
2. Drive Productivity--The approximately 47,000 employees of the
Department of Commerce must be empowered and focused on
delivering tangible, outcome-driven results that support the
President's goals to benefit the American people. As Secretary
of Commerce, I will work to foster a culture of productivity by
ensuring that every employee is aligned with clear objectives,
accountable for timely deliverables, and committed to achieving
measurable outcomes. This approach, coupled with a strong
emphasis on financial accountability, will be crucial to
fulfilling the Department's mission and driving national
progress.
3. Alignment of Goals and Objectives--The Department of Commerce
must be united in its efforts to achieve a cohesive set of
objectives that are fully aligned with President Trump's
mandate. As Secretary of Commerce, I will refocus the
Department's efforts, advancing the key priorities that drive
domestic manufacturing, productivity, and growth. Investment in
America and the promotion of American production and the
enforcement of our policies are central to this mission.
Additionally, the Department must leverage our economic tools
to support both domestic and foreign policy, reinforcing the
President's vision in securing America's future prosperity.
b. potential conflicts of interest
1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation
agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates,
clients, or customers. Please include information related to retirement
accounts, such as a 401(k) or pension plan.
I plan to divest all relevant holdings in accordance with Federal
laws and regulations and set forth in my ethics agreement with the
Office of Government Ethics. Therefore, I will have no conflicts of
interest.
2. Do you have any commitments or agreements, formal or informal,
to maintain employment, affiliation, or practice with any business,
association, or other organization during your appointment? If so,
please explain. None.
3. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in
the position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will
resolve each potential conflict of interest. None.
4. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
transaction which you have had during the last ten years, whether for
yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in
any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the
position to which you have been nominated. Explain how you will resolve
each potential conflict of interest. None.
5. Identify any other potential conflicts of interest and explain
how you will resolve each potential conflict of interest. None.
6. Describe any activity during the past ten years, including the
names of clients represented, in which you have been engaged for the
purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat, or
modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and
execution of law or public policy. None.
c. legal matters
1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics,
professional misconduct, or retaliation by, or been the subject of a
complaint to, any court, administrative agency, the Office of Special
Counsel, an Inspector General, professional association, disciplinary
committee, or other professional group? If yes:
None.
a. Provide the name of the court, agency, association, committee, or
group;
b. Provide the date the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
personnel action was issued or initiated;
c. Describe the citation, disciplinary action, complaint, or
personnel action;
d. Provide the results of the citation, disciplinary action,
complaint, or personnel action.
2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged, or held by
any Federal, State, or other law enforcement authority of any Federal,
State, county, municipal, or foreign government entity, other than for
a minor traffic offense? If so, please explain. None.
3. Have you or any business or nonprofit of which you are or were
an officer ever been involved as a party in an administrative agency
proceeding, criminal proceeding, or civil litigation? If so, please
explain.
The companies for which I am a named officer have been involved
from time to time in litigation, arbitration and administrative claims
in the ordinary course of business. On limited occasion, I have been
named personally in certain proceedings, however none of those have
ever resulted in any finding of personal liability or required any
personal contribution. Some of the businesses for which I am a named
officer are regulated entities, including broker-dealers, which are
subject to routine reviews, examinations, and investigations (both
formal and informal) by governmental and self-regulatory agencies in
the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions.
4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic
offense? If so, please explain. None.
5. Have you ever been accused, formally or informally, of sexual
assault, sexual harassment, or discrimination on the basis of sex,
race, religion, or any other basis? If so, please explain. None.
6. Please advise the Committee of any additional information,
favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be disclosed in
connection with your nomination. None.
d. relationship with committee
1. Will you ensure that your department/agency/commission/
corporation complies with deadlines for information set by
congressional committees, and that your department/agency/commission/
corporation endeavors to timely comply with requests for information
from individual Members of Congress, including requests from members in
the minority? Yes.
2. Will you ensure that your department/agency/commission/
corporation does whatever it can to protect congressional witnesses and
whistleblowers from reprisal for their testimony and disclosures? Yes.
3. Will you cooperate in providing the Committee with requested
witnesses, including technical experts and career employees, with
firsthand knowledge of matters of interest to the Committee? Yes.
4. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Congress on such occasions as you may be
reasonably requested to do so? Yes.
______
Annex B
(Cantor Fitzgerald L.P. and Subsidiary Entities)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entity Entity Type Position From To
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1035 BATTERY STREET OWNER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Jun-20 Present
10801 MADISON AVENUE OWNER.,LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-21 Present
110 RRP MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-15 Sep-24
1100 HIDDEN RIDGE, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Nov-20 Present
1840 LONGMIRE ROAD OWNER MANAGER, Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Mar-22 Present
LLC
1840 LONGMIRE ROAD OWNER MEMBER, Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Mar-22 Present
LLC
1840 LONGMIRE ROAD OWNER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Mar-22 Present
1840 LONGMIRE ROAD, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Mar-22 Present
2477 DEERFIELD DRIVE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
2575 S HIGHLAND DRIVE HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-15 Present
LLC
2575 S HIGHLAND DRIVE, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Sep-16 Present
3075 LOYALTY CIRCLE MEMBER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
3075 LOYALTY CIRCLE OWNER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
3221 KELLER SPRINGS ROAD MANAGER, Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Feb-21 Present
LLC
3221 KELLER SPRINGS ROAD MEMBER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-21 Present
LLC
3221 KElLER SPRINGS ROAD, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-21 Present
3596 ALPINE AVE, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. May-17 Present
5303 FISHER ROAD OWNER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Feb-22 Present
5516 WEST BUCHANAN STREET OWNER, Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Nov-19 Present
LLC
651 E CORPORATE DRIVE, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Oct-18 Present
692 MONTAUK HIGHWAY LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-15 Present
8100 GIBBS WAY JV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-21 Present
ADFIN SOLUTIONS, INC. Corporation Director Mar-17 Mar-23
AFTERMATH FILM, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
AQUA SECURITIES HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Director, Chairman, May-07 Present
President and C.E.O.
AQUA SECURITIES, L.P. Limited Partnership Director Jun-99 May-23
BARTHOLOMEW ANTIQUES, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-07 Present
and C.E.O.
BARTHOLOMEW ANTIQUES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-07 Present
and C.E.O,
BSP MEMBER MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-12 Dec-23
CANTOR (ALDERNEY) HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, May-24 Sep-24
and C.E.O.
CANTOR (CHINA) TECHNOLOGY CO. Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-11 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. IV Corporation Director, Chain:nan, Oct-20 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. IX Corporation Director, Chairman, and Oct-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. V Corporation Director, Chairman, and Oct-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. X Corporation Director, Chairman, and Nov-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. XI Corporation Director, Chairman, and Oct-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. XII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Oct-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR ACQUISITION CORP. XIII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Oct-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR ADVISORS MANAGEMENT, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-15 Present
CANTOR CAPITAL SOLUTIONS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-15 Present
CANTOR CF INVESTOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-18 Sep-24
CANTOR CF SECURED INVESTOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-18 Present
CANTOR CHOP GP MEMBER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-24 Present
CANTOR CHOP LP INVESTOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-24 Present
CANTOR CLEARING, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, May-12 Dec-23
and C.E.O.
CANTOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Feb-10 Present
INVESTOR HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Feb-10 Present
INVESTOR, L.P. and C.E.O.
CANTOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Feb-10 Present
SPONSOR HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Nov-23
and C.E.O.
CANTOR COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Jan-08 Present
CANTOR CT HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-11 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR CT, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jan-11 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR CULTURAL ASSET MANAGEMENT, Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-10 Nov-23
L.P. and C.E.O.
CANTOR DATA SERVICES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Aug-12 Present
CANTOR DIGITAL ASSETS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-22 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR EL MEDIA, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman, President, Mar-12 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CANTOR ENTERTAINMENT DATA Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR ENTERTAINMENT DATA, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Jun-05 Present
CANTOR ENTERTAINMENT HOLDINGS, Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
L.P. and C.E.O.
CANTOR ENTERTAINMENT HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-16 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS III, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS IV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS V, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CANTOR EP HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-21 Present
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS I, INC. Limited Liability Company Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS II, INC. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Nov-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS III, INC. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Nov-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS IV, INC. Corporation Director, Chairman, Apr-21 Present
C.F.O. and C.E.O.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS V, INC. Corporation Director, Chairman, Apr-21 Present
C.F.O. and C.E.O.
CANTOR EQUITY PARTNERS, INC. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Nov-20 Present
C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO. General Partnership Chairman Apr-15 Present
CANTOR FITZGERALD (PROPRIETARY) Private Company Director Oct-97 Present
LIMITED
CANTOR FITZGERALD ACCELERATION & Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-12 Dec-23
SEEDING (TRADING), LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD ASSET MANAGEMENT Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jan-14 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD ASSET MANAGEMENT Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-16 Present
OPERATIONS, LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD CANADA Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Nov-05 Present
CORPORATION HOLDINGS, L.P.
CANTOR FITZGERALD CONTROLLED General Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-09 Present
EQUITY OFFERINGS and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD GAME HOLDINGS Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-01 Present
LLC and C.E.O
CANTOR FITZGERALD HEDGE FUND Limited Liability Company Chairman May-24 Present
SERVICES, LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD INCOME ADVISORS, Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Feb-17 Present
LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD INCOME TRUST OP Limited Liability Company Chairman May-16 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD INCOME TRUST Limited Partnership C.E.O. Feb-17 Present
OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
CANTOR FITZGERALD INCOME TRUST, Corporation Director, Chairman of Feb-17 Present
INC. the Board, and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD INVESTMENT Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-10 Present
ADVISORS HOLDINGS, LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD INVESTMENT Limited Partnership Chairman Feb-10 Present
ADVISORS, L.P.
CANTOR FITZGERALD INVESTORS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-16 Present
CANTOR FITZGERALD IRELAND Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-10 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD SECURITIES General Partnership Chairman, President, May-95 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD TECHNOLOGY Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Sep-20 Present
MARKETS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD TELECOM Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
SERVICES, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR FITZGERALD WEALTH PARTNERS, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-23 Present
LLC
CANTOR FITZGERALD, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR FLAGS LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-16 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CANTOR FRANCE INVESTOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-21 Sep-24
CANTOR FRANCE SPONSOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-21 Sep-24
CANTOR G&W HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR G&W INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-16 Present
LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR G&W SPECIAL ASSETS Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, May-08 Dec-23
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR G&W SPECIAL ASSETS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, May-08 Dec-23
and C.E.O.
CANTOR G&W, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR GGAM HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-11 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR GGAM, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jan-11 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR INDEX FX HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Sep-06 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR INDEX FX, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Sep-06 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR INDEX HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR INDEX LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR INSURANCE GROUP HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR INSURANCE GROUP, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR LEXNET HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-06 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR RE LIMITED HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Sep-23 Dec-23
and C.E.O.
CANTOR REAL ESTATE FINANCE Limited Company Chairman, President, Jul-18 Dec-23
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR REAL ESTATE FINANCE Limited Company Chairman Jul-14 Dec-23
OPERATIONS, LLC
CANTOR REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-08 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR REAL ESTATE, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-08 Present
CANTOR REALTY CAPITAL ADVISORS Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Dec-09 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CANTOR REALTY CAPITAL ADVISORS, Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Dec-09 Present
L.P. and C.E.O.
CANTOR REALTY FUND I, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Dec-14 Present
CANTOR REALTY FUND II MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CANTOR REALTY FUND II, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Sep-16 Present
CANTOR REALTY FUND III MANAGER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-18 Present
LLC
CANTOR REALTY FUND III, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Feb-18 Present
CANTOR REALTY FUND MANAGER I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CANTOR REALTY PRODUCTS PARTNERS, Limited Partnership Chairman Dec-14 Present
L.P.
CANTOR REALTY PRODUCTS SPONSOR, Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
LLC
CANTOR REALTY PRODUCTS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CANTOR RRP SLP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Aug-14 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR SILVERSTEIN OPPORTUNITY Corporation Director Jan-22 Present
ZONE TRUST II, INC.
CANTOR SILVERSTEIN OPPORTUNITY Corporation Director May-19 Present
ZONE TRUST, INC.
CANTOR SILVERSTEIN QOF MANAGER, Limited Liability Company Director Feb-19 Present
LLC
CANTOR SPONSOR, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-10 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR VENTURES HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-10 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTOR VENTURES, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-10 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E (CANADA) COMPANY Unlimited company Director and President Mar-08 Present
CANTORCO2e (CANADA) HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Nov-07 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E (UK) HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Nov-07 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E BRAZIL HOLDINGS I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Sep-07 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E BRAZIL HOLDINGS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Sep-07 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E CLASS E HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Nov-08 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E MEXICO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, May-07 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2E, LLC Limited Liability Company Director, President, Mar-07 Present
and C.E.O.
CANTORCO2eHLP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-07 Present
and C.E.O
CASTLEOAK MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-06 Sep-24
and C.E.O.
CCAM HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-10 Nov-23
and C.E.O.
CCEHLP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-08 Present
and C.E.O.
CCRE INVESTOR II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-17 Present
and C.E.O.
CCRE INVESTOR III, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-17 Present
and C.E.O
CCRE INVESTOR IV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-17 Present
and C.E.O.
CDF II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-12 Dec-23
CDMF, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-12 Dec-23
CF 10801 MADISON AVENUE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Apr-21 Present
CF ACCOUNT MANAGERS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Feb-23 Feb-23
CF ACQUISITION CORP. IV Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jan-20 Dec-23
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. IX Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. VII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. X Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XI Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XIII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XIV Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XIX Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XV Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XVI Corporation Director, Chairman, and Jul-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XVII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XVIII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXI Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXIII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXIV Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXIX Corporation Director, Chairman, and Mar-21 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXV Corporation Director, Chairman, and Sep-20 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXVI Corporation Director, Chairman, and Mar-21 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXVII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Mar-21 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXVIII Corporation Director, Chairman, and Mar-21 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION CORP. XXX Corporation Director, Chairman, and Mar-21 Present
C.E.O.
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS IV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-20 Present
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS IX, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-20 Present
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS V, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-20 Present
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS X, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS XI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-20 Present
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS XII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-20 Present
CF ACQUISITION HOLDINGS XIII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O Oct-20 Present
CF ALBERTSONS CHICAGO HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-18 Present
LLC
CF ALBERTSONS CHICAGO, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-18 Present
CF ALBERTSONS LANCASTER HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-18 Present
LLC
CF ALBERTSONS LANCASTER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-18 Present
CF ARBORETUM DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF ARBORETUM MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF ARBORETUM MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF ARBORETUM, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CF Archer Depositor, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF Archer Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF Archer Master Tenant, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF Archer, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF ARRABELLA DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-22 Present
CF ARRABELLA MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
CF ARRABELLA MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-22 Present
CF ARRABELLA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
CF ARROW CANYON DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CF ARROW CANYON MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CF ARROW CANYON MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CF ARROW CANYON, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CF AURORA DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-19 Present
CF AURORA MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CF AURORA MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CF AURORA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CF BALA WOODS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-22 Present
CF BELLEVUE DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Feb-19 Present
CF BELLEVUE MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Feb-19 Present
CF BELLEVUE MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
CF BELLEVUE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-19 Present
CF CANYON CREEK DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-24 Present
CF CANYON CREEK MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-24 Present
CF CANYON CREEK MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-24 Present
CF CANYON CREEK, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-24 Present
CF CASH, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-18 Present
CF CHISHOLM DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Dec-21 Present
CF CHISHOLM MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-21 Present
CF CHISHOLM MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Dec-21 Present
CF CHISHOLM, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CF DC HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Dec-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CF DC HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Dec-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CF DEERFIELD HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-18 Present
CF DST ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CF DST HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CF DST VENTURE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-18 Present
CF EMERSON DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF EMERSON MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF EMERSON MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF EMERSON MEMBER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CF EMERSON, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CF EUROPE SPONSOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-21 Feb-24
CF EVOKE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-20 Present
CF FINANCE HOLDINGS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. May-20 Present
CF FINANCE HOLDINGS III, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-16 Present
CF FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jul-14 Present
and C.E.O.
CF GCM INVESTOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Nov-20 Present
CF GILTS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-99 Feb-24
CF GLENMUIR DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CF GLENMUIR MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CF GLENMUIR MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CF GLENMUIR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman May-21 Present
CF GLOBAL FINANCE, LTD. Limited Partnership Director Sep-24 Present
CF GLOBAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-15 Present
CF HEADQUARTERS CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, Apr-15 Present
President and C.E.O.
CF HEADQUARTERS II, INC. Corporation Chairman, Director, Aug-23 Present
President, and C.E.O.
CF HENDRY DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Oct-19 Present
CF HENDRY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Oct-19 Present
CF HENDRY MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-19 Present
CF HENDRY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CF III, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CF INDUSTRY DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-21 Present
CF INDUSTRY DST HOLDER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CF INDUSTRY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-21 Present
CF INDUSTRY MASTER TENANT MANAGER, Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
LLC
CF INDUSTRY MASTER TENANT MEMBER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
LLC
CF INDUSTRY, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
IX C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
VIII C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
X C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XI C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XII C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XIII C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XIV C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XIX C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XV C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XVI C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XVII C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XVIII C.E.O.
CF INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and Apr-21 Present
XX C.E.O.
CF KACEY DST HOLDER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-21 Present
CF KACEY, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Oct-21 Present
CF KELLER HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company C.E.O Feb-21 Present
CF Keller Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-24 Present
CF Keller Master Tenant, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-24 Present
CF Keller TRS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CF LEGACY AT FOX VALLEY DEPOSITOR, Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
LLC
CF LEGACY AT FOX VALLEY MANAGER, Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
LLC
CF LEGACY AT FOX VALLEY MASTER Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
TENANT, LLC
CF LEGACY AT FOX VALLEY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
CF LEGAL INFOSYSTEMS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Jan-24
and C.E.O.
CF LIFE SETTLEMENTS HOLDINGS I, Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-06 Present
LLC and C.E.O.
CF LIFE SETTLEMENTS HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-06 Present
and C.E.O.
CF LIVONIA DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-19 Present
CF LIVONIA DST MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-19 Present
CF LIVONIA MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-19 Present
CF LIVONIA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-19 Present
CF LOYALTY HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CF MAINTENANCE CORP. Corporation Director, Chairman, and May-22 Present
C.E.O.
CF MANAGED ASSETS, L.L.C. Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CF Master Tenant Holdco, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-24 Present
CF MOUNT COMFORT DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Dec-20 Present
CF MOUNT COMFORT DST MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Dec-20 Present
CF MOUNT COMFORT LAND OWNER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Oct-22 Present
CF MOUNT COMFORT MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Nov-20 Present
CF MOUNT COMFORT, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Nov-20 Present
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO DEPOSITOR Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
I, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO DEPOSITOR Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
II, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO DEPOSITOR Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
III, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO DEPOSITOR Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
IV, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO DEPOSITOR Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
V, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO DEPOSITOR Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
VI, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO MANAGER I, Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO MANAGER II, Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO MANAGER Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
III, LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO MANAGER IV, Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO MANAGER V, Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
LLC
CF NET LEASE PORTFOLIO MANAGER VI, Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
LLC
CF NOTES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CF PALMS DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CF PALMS DST HOLDER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CF PALMS MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CF PALMS MASTER TENANT MANAGER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
LLC
CF PALMS MASTER TENANT MEMBER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CF PALMS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CF PEARLAND DST HOLDER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-23 Present
CF PEARLAND MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-23 Present
CF PEARLAND MASTER TENANT MEMBER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-23 Present
LLC
CF PEARLAND MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-23 Present
CF PEARLAND, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-23 Present
CF PEARLLAND MASTER TENANT Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-23 Present
MANAGER, LLC
CF PRINCIPAL INVESTMENTS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-22 Present
and C.E.O.
CF PRIVATE CLAIMS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-18 Present
CF QOF SPONSOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-19 Present
CF RAILWAY DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-19 Present
CF RAILWAY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-19 Present
CF RAILWAY MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-19 Present
CF RAILWAY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-19 Present
CF REAL ESTATE ASSET MANAGEMENT, Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jun-15 Present
LLC
CF REAL ESTATE COMPANY, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jun-15 Present
CF REAL ESTATE DST HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-15 Present
CF REAL ESTATE FINANCE HOLDINGS Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jul-17 Present
GP, LLC and C.E.O.
CF REAL ESTATE FINANCE HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Feb-20 Present
L.P. and C.E.O.
CF REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jun-15 Present
CF Remy Depositor, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CF Remy Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CF Remy Master Tenant, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CF Remy, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CF RIVERTOP DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF RIVERTOP MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF RIVERTOP MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF RIVERTOP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF RIVERVIEW DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CF RIVERVIEW MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CF RIVERVIEW MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CF RIVERVIEW MEMBER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CF RIVERVIEW, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CF RIVERWORKS DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-24 Present
CF RIVERWORKS MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-24 Present
CF RIVERWORKS MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-24 Present
CF RIVERWORKS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-24 Present
CF SAWYER DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-18 Present
CF SAWYER MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-18 Present
CF SAWYER MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-18 Present
CF SAWYER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-18 Present
CF SECURED HOLDINGS I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-16 Present
CF SECURED HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-18 Present
CF SILVERSTREAM DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF SILVERSTREAM MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF SILVERSTREAM MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Aug-21 Present
CF SILVERSTREAM, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CF SINGAPORE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Dec-21 Present
and C.E.O.
CF SPARC HOLDCO, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-22 Present
and C.E.O.
CF SPECIAL INVESTMENTS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Feb-24 Present
CF SPECIAL INVESTMENTS MM, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-21 Present
CF SPECIAL INVESTMENTS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-21 Present
CF STATION DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-20 Present
CF STATION MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-20 Present
CF STATION MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-20 Present
CF STATION, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-20 Present
CF SUMMERFIELD DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF SUMMERFIELD DST HOLDER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF SUMMERFIELD JV MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF SUMMERFIELD MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF SUMMERFIELD MASTER TENANT JV Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
MANAGER, LLC
CF SUMMERFIELD MASTER TENANT JV Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
MEMBER, LLC
CF SUMMERFIELD MEMBER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF Summit Ridge Depositor, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CF Summit Ridge Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CF Summit Ridge Master Tenant, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CF Summit Ridge Multifamily DST Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CF Summit Ridge, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CF TEXAS MULTIFAMILY PORTFOLIO Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Sep-21 Present
MANAGER, LLC
CF TOKYO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Aug-17 Present
and C.E.O.
CF TRIBECA DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF TRIBECA MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF TRIBECA MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CF VALENCIA LIFE SCIENCES DST Limited Liablitiy Company but Chairman Jun-21 Present
MANAGER, LLC treated as a C corp for tax
pursposes
CF VALENCIA LIFE SCIENCES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-21 Present
CF WEST END DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-22 Present
CF WEST END DST HOLDER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-22 Present
CF WEST END MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CF WEST END MASTER TENANT MANAGER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-22 Present
LLC
CF WEST END MASTER TENANT MEMBER, Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-22 Present
LLC
CF WEST END, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-22 Present
CF Westchester Depositor, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF Westchester Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF Westchester Master Tenant, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF Westchester, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CF WG INVESTORS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CF WG MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CF WG NET LEASE EQUITY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-16 Present
CF WG NET LEASE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CF WG NET LEASE MEZZ, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-16 Present
CF WG NET LEASE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CF WYATT DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF WYATT MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF WYATT MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CF WYATT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-21 Present
CF&Co HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CF&CO, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CFAC HOLDINGS IV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jan-20 Sep-24
CFAC HOLDINGS IX, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS V, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jan-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS VI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS VII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS VIII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS X, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XIII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XIV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XIX, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XVI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O Jul-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XVII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XVIII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XXI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XXII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XXIII, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XXIV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XXV, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-21 Present
CFAC HOLDINGS XXX, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-21 Present
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS IX, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS VIII, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS X, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XI, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XII, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XIII, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XIV, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XIX, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XV, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XVI, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XVII, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XVIII, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAC INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS XX, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-21 Present
LLC
CFAL, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Dec-17 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CFAS HOLDINGS I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-12 Dec-23
CFBH AURORA MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CFBH AURORA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CFBH GLENMUIR MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman May-21 Present
CFBH INDUSTRY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CFBH INDUSTRY MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-21 Present
CFBH INDUSTRY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CFBH LEGACY AT FOX VALLEY MANAGER, Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
LLC
CFBH LEGACY AT FOX VALLEY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
CFBH RAILWAY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-19 Present
CFBH RAILWAY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CFBH RIVERVIEW MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CFBH RIVERVIEW, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CFBH Summit Ridge Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CFBH Summit Ridge, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-24 Present
CFBH WEST END MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-22 Present
CFBH WEST END MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CFBH WEST END, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CFCAF ARBORETUM MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CFCAF ARBORETUM, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CFCAF ARRABELLA MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
CFCAF ARRABELLA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-22 Present
CFCAF BALA WOODS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-22 Present
CFCAF CHISHOLM MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CFCAF CHISHOLM, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CFCAF EMERSON MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-21 Present
CFCAF EMERSON, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CFCAF EVOKE MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-20 Present
CFCAF EVOKE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-20 Present
CFCAF Hendry Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CFCAF HENDRY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-19 Present
CFCAF KACEY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-21 Present
CFCAF KACEY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Nov-21 Present
CFCAF PALMS MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CFCAF PALMS MASTER TENANT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CFCAF PALMS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-22 Present
CFCAF PEARLAND MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-23 Present
CFCAF PEARLAND, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-23 Present
CFCAF SILVERSTREAM MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CFCAF STATION MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-20 Present
CFCAF STATION, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-20 Present
CFCCHLP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFCO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CFE ACQUISITION I LIMITED Memorandum of Association and Director Apr-21 Present
Articles of Association
CFGM CF&CO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFGM CFS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFHGI Archer Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CFHGI Archer, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-23 Present
CFHGI RIVERWORKS MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-24 Present
CFHGI RIVERWORKS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Mar-24 Present
CFHGI Westchester Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CFHGI Westchester, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-23 Present
CFHKCM HOLDINGS I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CFHKCM HOLDINGS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CFHZ ARROW CANYON MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CFHZ ARROW CANYON, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-18 Present
CFHZ BELLEVUE MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-19 Present
CFHZ BELLEVUE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-19 Present
CFHZ RIVERTOP MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CFHZ RIVERTOP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Sep-19 Present
CFHZ SUMMERFIELD MASTER TENANT JV, Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
LLC
CFHZ WYATT MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-21 Present
CFI PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CFIM ACQUISITIONS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-16 Present
CFIM ADVISORS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-21 Present
CFIM HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-16 Present
CFIT ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-21 Present
CFIT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company Chairman Mar-21 Present
CFIT REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company C.E.O Oct-19 Present
CFLP CANTOR INSURANCE GROUP Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
HOLDINGS, L.P. and C.E.O.
CFLP CANTOR INSURANCE GROUP Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CFLP CF&CO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFLP CF&CO I HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFLP CFS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFLP CFS I HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFMEI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-07 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CFPH II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CFPH, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CFRPM CANYON CREEK MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-24 Present
CFRPM CANYON CREEK, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jan-24 Present
CFRPM Remy Manager, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CFRPM Remy, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-24 Present
CFS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY CANADA Unlimited Company President Mar-12 Present
CORP.
CFS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY CANADA Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-12 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
CFS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY CANADA, Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-12 Present
L.P. and C.E.O.
CFS CF&CO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Sep-05 Present
and C.E.O.
CFS CF&CO I HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Feb-19 Present
and C.E.O.
CFS MEXICO HOLDINGS I, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Sep-11 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CFS MEXICO HOLDINGS II, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Sep-11 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CFS MEXICO HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-13 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CFS11 HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-17 Nov-23
and C.E.O.
CFV INVESTMENTS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-24 Present
CFWD SAWYER MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-18 Present
CFWD SAWYER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-18 Present
CG ANALYTICS, INC. Corporation Director and Chairman Nov-15 Present
of the Board of
Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY CHINA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Oct-15 Present
CG TECHNOLOGY GP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman of the Board Jan-16 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Managing Member, Apr-15 Present
Manager, Chairman and
C.E.O.
CG TECHNOLOGY NJ, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY US, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY, INC. Corporation Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CG TECHNOLOGY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
CIHLP II LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CIHLP LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-13 Present
and C.E.O.
CITHAERON PARTNERS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-07 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CITHAERON PARTNERS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-07 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
CLAIM COLLECTIONS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
CLM ADVISORS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
and C.E.O.
CLM ADVISORS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
and C.E.O.
CLM AGENCY HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
and C.E.O.
CLM AGENCY, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Mar-23 Present
and C.E.O.
CRPPH, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-14 Present
CVAFH I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jul-13 Present
and C.E.O.
DDC FINANCE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-14 Present
DDCAC, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. May-13 Present
DELIVERY HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership President Jul-21 Present
DELIVERY HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company President Jul-21 Present
DELIVERY.COM, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jul-09 Present
and C.E.O.
DG-1 ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jun-15 Present
DG-1 DEPOSITOR, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jun-15 Present
DG-1 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman Jun-15 Present
DLI 24, LLC Limited Liablitiy Company but Managing Member, Feb-24 Present
treated as a Partnership for Chairman, and C.E.O.
tax pursposes
EATS MEDIA, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-09 Oct-24
and C.E.O.
ESV LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
FINTAN PARTNERS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Feb-14 Present
GGAM BAHAMAS LIMITED Limited Liability Company Director, Secretary, May-15 Present
and Vice Chairman
GLOBAL GAMING ASSET MANAGEMENT Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board, Sep-10 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC President, and C.E.O.
GLOBAL GAMING ASSET MANAGEMENT, Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Sep-10 Present
L.P. and C.E.O.
GLOBAL GAMING PHILIPPINES, LLC Limited Liability Company Co-Chairman May-14 Present
GRCH, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-15 Present
GREAT AUK, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
HELIX FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
HELIX FINANCIAL SYSTEMS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Apr-11 Present
and C.E.O.
HOLLYWOOD STOCK EXCHANGE, LL+D974C Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Feb-07 Present
and C.E.O.
INDEPENDENT MARKET SERVICES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Feb-24
and C.E.O.
INNOVATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Present
and C.E.O.
INSTASHIP LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-12 Present
and C.E.O.
INTERACTIVE GAMES LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-15 Present
and C.E.O.
LAS VEGAS SPORTS MOBILE, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman of the Board Nov-15 Present
of Directors
LEGAL INFOSYSTEMS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Jan-24
and C.E.O.
LEGAL INFOSYSTEMS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Apr-15 Jan-24
and C.E.O.
LET'S DO DELIVERY,LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President Jan-23 Present
LEXNET, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Apr-06 Present
and C.E.O.
LIFE INSURANCE ARCHITECTS GP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-06 Jan-24
and C.E.O.
LIFE INSURANCE ARCHITECTS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Nov-06 Jan-24
and C.E.O.
LIFE INSURANCE DEPOSITORY Corporation Director, Chairman, Jul-11 Present
CORPORATION President and C.E.O.
LIFE SETTLEMENTS INTERNATIONAL, Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, May-07 Jan-24
LLC and C.E.O.
LINEAGE ASSET COMPANY, LLC Limited Liability Company Sole Manager, Chairman, Jul-14 Present
C.E.O.
MARCH MANAGEMENT GROUP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, May-17 Present
and C.E.O.
MARKET DATA CORPORATION Corporation Chairman, President, Apr-07 Present
and C.E.O.
MODEL ACTUARIAL PRICING SYSTEMS Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-23 Present
HOLDINGS, LLC
MODEL ACTUARIAL PRICING SYSTEMS, Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-23 Present
L.P.
NORTH DE ANZA BOULEVARD, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman May-21 Present
PARK AVENUE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-15 Present
LLC
RDN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-20 Present
RESOLUTION RECOVERY PARTNERS GP Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-14 Sep-24
LLC
RESOLUTION RECOVERY PARTNERS Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-14 Sep-24
MANAGEMENT, LLC
RESOLUTION RECOVERY PARTNERS Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-14 Sep-24
MANAGER, LLC
RGGSR 1035 BATTERY STREET, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O Aug-19 Present
RGSSR BATTERY STREET MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Sep-19 Present
RODIN INCOME ADVISORS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-18 Present
RODIN INCOME TRUST OP HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. May-16 Present
LLC
RRP MANAGEMENT, LLC Limited Liablity Company Chairman May-15 Sep-24
STRUCTURED SERVICES INVESTMENT LO, Limited Liability Company President Mar-19 Present
LLC (Taxed as C-Corp)
STRUCTURED SERVICES INVESTOR, LLC Limited Liability Company President Mar-19 Present
THE CANTOR FITZGERALD FOUNDATION Corporation Chairman, President Aug-01 Present
THE CANTOR FITZGERALD RELIEF FUND Corporation (501c3 Charity) Director Sep-08 Present
THL 24, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Mar-24 Present
TOWER BRIDGE INTERNATIONAL Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jan-07 Present
SERVICES HOLDINGS, L.P. and C.E.O.
TOWER BRIDGE INTERNATIONAL Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jan-07 Present
SERVICES HOLDINGS, LLC and C.E.O.
VIEW PRINCIPAL MEMBER, LLC Limited Liability Company Managing Member, May-24 Present
Chairman, and C.E.O.
VIEW TOPCO, LLC Limited Liability Company Board of Managers May-24 Present
Member, Chairman
WATER MILL 27 ASSOCIATES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-15 Present
WG MANAGER 1, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
WG MANAGER 2, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
WG MANAGER 3, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
WG MANAGER 4, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
WG MANAGER 5, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
WG NET LEASE INVESTORS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
WG PROPERTY MANAGER, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-20 Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annex C
(BGC Group Inc. and Subsidiary Entities)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entity Entity Type Position From To
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BGC POTEN & PARTNERS HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Oct-18 Present
BGC RADIX ENERGY L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC REMATE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC SECURITIES (HONG KONG) LLC Limited Liability Company Director, Chairman, and Oct-96 Present
C.E.O.
BGC SUNRISE HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Jul-16 Present
BGC TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) Corporation Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
HOLDINGS I, INC.
BGC TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) Corporation Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
HOLDINGS II, INC.
BGC TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
HOLDINGS III, LLC
BGC TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED Private Limited Company Director Jul-00 Jan-22
BGC TECHNOLOGY BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LLC
BGC TECHNOLOGY BROKERAGE, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC TECHNOLOGY ELX HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC TECHNOLOGY ELX HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC TECHNOLOGY MARKETS HOLDINGS, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LLC
BGC TECHNOLOGY MARKETS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Feb-18 Present
BGC TECHNOLOGY, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC TRADING HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGC USA HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-09 Present
BGC USA, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-09 Present
BGCBI, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGCCMHK HOLDINGS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-09 Present
BGCCMHK HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-09 Present
BGCCMLP HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-09 Present
BGCF HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-09 Present
BGCIHLP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
BGCP II, INC. Corporation Chairman and C.E.O. Dec-17 Present
CX FUTURES EXCHANGE HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-15 Present
CX FUTURES EXCHANGE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Apr-16 Present
CHART TRADING DEVELOPMENT, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
CX CLEARINGHOUSE HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Director, Chairman, and Apr-16 Present
C.E.O.
eAB HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-05 Present
and C.E.O.
ELX FUTURES HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, Director, Jun-07 Present
President, and C.E.O.
ESX CLEARING HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Jun-07 Present
and C.E.O.
ESX CLEARING, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman, President, Jun-07 Present
and C.E.O.
FENICS SOFTWARE, INC. Corporation Director and Chairman Aug-16 Present
FHLP HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Aug-18 Present
FHLP, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Aug-18 Present
FMX FUTURES EXCHANGE HOLDINGS GP, Limited Liability Company Director, Chairman, and Jul-18 Present
LLC C.E.O.
FMX HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Director, Chairman Apr-23 Present
FMX SERVICES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. May-19 Present
FREEDOM INTERNATIONAL HOLDING, Limited Partnership C.E.O. and President Apr-01 Present
L.P.
GFI FUTURES EXCHANGE LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
GFI GROUP INC. Corporation Chairman and C.E.O. Feb-15 Present
GFI GROUP LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Aug-16 Present
GFI MARKETS LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Aug-16 Present
GFI SECURITIES LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jun-21 Mar-22
GFINET HOLDINGS INC. Corporation Director and Chairman Aug-16 Present
GFINET INC. Corporation Director, Chairman, May-15 Present
President and C.E.O.
GFIX LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
IVG ENERGY, LTD Limited partnership Chairman Sep-24 Present
LFI HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LIQUIDITY PARTNERS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Sep-24 Present
LUCERA FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURES, Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LLC
LUCERA FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LUCERA INFRASTRUCTURES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LUCERA OPERATIONS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
LUCERA SERVICES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
MINT BROKERS HOLDINGS I, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
MINT BROKERS HOLDINGS II, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
POTEN & PARTNERS GROUP, INC. Corporation Chairman Apr-23 Present
POTEN & PARTNERS, INC. Corporation Chairman Apr-23 Present
RMT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES HOLDINGS Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 May-23
I, LLC
RMT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES HOLDINGS Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-22 Present
II, LLC
RMT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, S. DE Variable Capital Limited Alternate Director Dec-20 Present
R.L. de C.V. Liability Company
SAGE ENERGY PARTNERS, LP Limited Partnership Chairman Sep-24 Present
SAGE REFINED PRODUCTS, LTD. Limited Partnership Chairman Sep-24 Present
SEMINOLE CAPITAL MARKETS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Jun-10 Present
THE EURO BROKERS RELIEF FUND, INC. Charitable Trust (501c3 Director Aug-06 Present
Charity)
TOWER BRIDGE GP LIMITED Private Limited Company Director and Chairman Dec-06 Present
TRADESOFT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Corporation Director Feb-97 Present
TREASURYCONNECT LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Nov-99 Present
and C.E.O.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annex D
(Newmark Group Inc. and Subsidiary Entities)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entity Entity Type Position From To
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
375 PARK INVESTMENTS HOLDINGS LLC Limited Liability Company C.E.O. Dec-16 Present
BERKELEY POINT FINANCIAL SERVICES Limited Liability Company Director Sep-11 Present
LLC
FULCRUM COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE LLC Limited Liability Company Co-Chairman Jul-17 Present
NEWMARK ACQUISITION CORP. Corporation Director Sep-20 Present
NEWMARK ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-20 Present
NEWMARK BPF HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-17 Present
NEWMARK GP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-17 Present
NEWMARK GROUP, INC. Corporation Director, Chairman of Nov-16 Present
the Board of Directors
NEWMARK HOLDINGS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-17 Present
NEWMARK HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman and C.E.O. Sep-17 Present
NEWMARK NOTES, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Dec-17 Present
NEWMARK PARTNERS, L.P. Limited Partnership Chairman Oct-17 Present
NEWMARK S11 GP. LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-17 Present
and C.E.O.
NEWMARK S11 HOLDINGS, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman Jul-17 Present
NEWMARK S11 LP, LLC Limited Liability Company Chairman, President, Mar-17 Present
and C.E.O.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annex E
(Not-for-Profits & Boards)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entity Entity Type Position From To
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National September 11 Memorial & Not-for-Profit Corporation Director Jan-06 Present
Museum
Partnership for New York City Not-for-Profit Corporation Director Jan-11 Present
WEIL CORNELL MEDICINE Medical College Board Fellow Jul-23 Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annex F
All information is redacted.
Annex G (Political Contributions)
Howard W. Lutnick--Political Contributions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Name Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9/29/2014 Americans ForResponsible 5,000.00
Solutions PAC
11/3/2014 Jolly Victory 7,600.00
3/15/2015 Right To Rise Super PAC, Inc 25,000.00
9/17/2015 Jeb 2016 Inc 5,400.00
9/25/2015 Friends Of David Jolly 5,400.00
8/10/2016 Marco Rubio For Senate 2016 2,700.00
11/1/2016 Arizona Grassroots Action 25,000.00
11/1/2016 Schumer Committee For The 32,000.00
Majority
12/9/2016 58th Presidential Inaugural 1,000,000.00
Committee
5/17/2017 Republican National Committee 250,000.00
10/20/2017 Mwphy For Governor 4,300.00
6/28/2018 Republican National Committee 250,000.00
7/31/2018 Zeldin For Congress 5,400.00
8/9/2019 Trump Victory-Revenue 250,000.00
6/3/2020 Zeldin For Congress 500.00
9/25/2020 Republican National Committee 250,000.00
9/25/2020 AIPAC 25,000.00
12/22/2020 Senate Leadership Fund 1,000,000.00
5/10/2021 New Yorkers For Tali 10,000.00
6/9/2021 Vote For NYC's Future Inc. 25,000.00
6/11/2021 New Start NYC 15,000.00
6/16/2021 Take Back The House 2022 754,500.00
4/11/2022 Honor Pennsylvania Inc. 100,000.00
4/20/2022 A New New York 100,000.00
6/30/2022 Take Back The House 2022 488,400.00
6/30/2022 Congressional Leadership Fund 1,000,000.00
11/14/2022 America For Everyone 1,000,000.00
4/3/2023 Congressional Leadership Fund 200,000.00
4/3/2023 Protect The House 2024 500,800.00
11/17/2023 Republican National Committee 413,000.00
12/29/2023 Make America Great Again Inc. 250,000.00
12/29/2023 Keystone Renewal PAC 500,000.00
1/16/2024 American Exceptionalism PAC 150,000.00
1/26/2024 Make America Great Again Inc. 750,000.00
4/1/2024 2024 RNC Victory 409,700.00
5/15/2024 Keystone Renewal PAC 500,000.00
8/5/2024 Make America Great Again Inc. 5,000,000.00
9/26/2024 TeamMcCormick 300,000.00
9/30/2024 Congressional Leadership Fund 1,500,000.00
10/16/2024 Make America Great Again Inc. 3,000,000.00
10/21/2024 Turnout for America 2,000,000.00
10/23/2024 Trump Vance 2025 Transition, Inc. 600,000.00
11/1/2024 The Sentinel Action Fund 250,000.00
11/4/2024 Friends of Andy Barr 5,800.00
12/23/2024 Trump Vance Inagural Committee 1,047,000.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allison Lutnick--Political Contributions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Name Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11/3/2014 Jolly Victory Committee 7,600.00
5/9/2015 Friends Of Schumer 10,000.00
9/27/2015 Friends Of David Jolly 5,400.00
6/30/2018 Bob Hugin For Senate 5,400.00
4/8/2021 New York For Ray 250,000.00
5/11/2021 New Yorkers For Schumer 11,600.00
10/23/2024 PA Victory 292,400.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annex H (Public Statements, TV, News, Radio, Podcasts)
Company Press Releases:
https://ir.bgcg.com/news/bgc-s-howard-w-lutnick-nominated-for-u-s-
secretary-of-commerce/c9ecc757-0c0e-4404-8862-1061fd755666/
https://www.nmrk.com/insights/press-releases/newmarks-howard-w-lutnick-
nominated-for-u-s-secretary-of-commerce
Relevant Articles:
https://www.ft.com/content/8a8a470d-4bf6-4ac5-9f25-ad546eee31af
https://www.wsj.com/business/howard-lutnick-cantor-fitzgerald-trump-
administration-a01f3abc
https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/howard-lutnick-donald-trump-
transition-committee-20241023.html
TV Interviews: https://grabien.com/file/
getmedia?id=2737182&key=5c4bbdb27e6
117bd36185fad77ca643b&userid=17147
https://grabien.com/file/
getmedia?id=2737180&key=04e525c7040576777d4d3f9de78
3e492&userid=17147
https://grabien.com/file/
getmedia?id=2737172&key=8c4cbbef2403038fcedd2dafdc3
847ac&userid=17147
https://grabien.com/file/
getmedia?id=2737176&key=8612ecb0057464d37d79465614
b99c3e&userid=17147
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ0Mgu7knFpeVJLGmZ9mcIA
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/10/24/union-rank-and-file-workers-will-
vote-for-trump-says-trump-transition-co-chair-howard-lutnick.html
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/09/09/balanced-tariffs-make-the-most-
sense-for-u-s-economy-says-cantor-fitzgeralds-howard-lutnick.html
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/07/17/watch-cnbcs-full-interview-with-
cantor-fitzgeralds-howard-lutnick.html
https://youtu.be/LESkb0qGFiU?si=u7HpiVlGDg0M756z
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LESkb0qGFiU
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/lots-leaders-wa1l-street-
privately-supporting-trump-transition-team-co-chair-says
Podcasts:
The Pomp Podcast (Anthony Pompliano): https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=4Aign
545PPA&t
The Gary Vee Experience (Gary Vaynerchuck)
Part 1: https://youtu.be/BkAVV7RiGwc?si=hydMznMlQ0gI2BvT
Part 2: https://youtu.be/PG74X8-tydY?si=20wLjpBuJ-O8jDk4
Nothing Left Unsaid (Tim Green): https://youtu.be/
KsLbTGlFgBY?si=KRZcNKMY
CEsZNlM0
X posts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Content Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/19/24 Great to see the fantastic https://x.com/
@kloeffier in the Senate howardlutnick/
offices ahead of the status/1869868171600998650
holidays. President Trump
has assembled a power
house team for his next
Administration. https://
t.co/9rH179UdmR
12/13/24 Congratulations to my https://x.com/
friend @RepFrenchHill on howardlutnick/
his election to chair of status/1867555342995116253
the House Financial
Services Committee. He
will do an amazing job.
12/12/24 Thank you@SenTedBuddNC. I https://x.com/
look forward to working howardlutnick/
with you to enact status/1867276730689351883
President Trump's economic
policies and unleash our
economy. https://tco/
z4xcG5Cns2
12/11/24 It has been one of the https://x.com/
greatest honors of my life howardlutnick/
to help my good friend. status/1866967268032385262
President Donald Trump.
Thanks to his leadership,
we have assembled the most
extraordinary team in the
history of this country.
Now it's time to Make
America Great Again.
11/30/24 Interesting for sure. https://x.com/
howardlutnick/
status/1862846771082269009
11/30/24 @TrumpDailyPosts https://x.com/
Interesting for sure. howardlutnick/
status/1862846526667522213
11/19/24 Thank you, President Trump https://x.com/
for your trust in me to howardlutnick/
help Make America Great status/1858994052504711380
Again. As the next
Secretary of Commerce. I
will join the best
administration the US has
ever seen and unleash our
full economic potential
https//t.co/CTrOsdH6nt
11/10/24 Yes. @elonnrusk and I https://x.com/
cannot agree more. howardlutnick/
status/1855703313146098105
11/6/24 I cannot be happier or more https://x.com/
proud @realDonaldTrump howardlutnick/
will be our 47th status/1854073709314658573
President. I really
enjoyed helping him. his
amazing family, Susie,
Chris, and his
extraordinary team. The
campaign was impressive.
The American people spoke
loudly and clearly. and we
will have four years with
11/5/24 Today is the day. I am https://x.com/
proud to vote for howardlutnick/
President status/1853792377086828718
@realDonaldTrump. He will
protect the American
workforce, unleash our
country's ingenuity, and
strengthen our economy.
Join me in going to the
polls and we will Make
America Great Again
10/31/24 To be clear, my wife and I https://x.com/
trust our doctors and howardlutnick/
following their advice status/1851848114573054407
have vaccinated our
children and ourselves.
However, not everybody
trusts such advice or the
FDA. We would be doing
everyone a service if the
government respected Bobby
Kennedy's request to make
the full data
10/30/24 I met with Bobby Kennedy https://x.com/
for over two hours and he howardlutnick/
was the opposite of what status/1851809029724459146
the media portrays.
Sunlight is the best
disinfectant--he wants to
study the full data (not
what the NIH decides to
put out) and let the
American people decide.
https://t.co/6vKNdYkVa7
10/29/24 I'm excited to be worlcing https://x.com/
with RFK Jr. on protecting howardlutnick/
America's health. https:// status/1851328268504326472
t.co/13uYhGzEwE
10/28/24 Amazing conversation with https://x.com/
@apompliano--he's focused howardlutnick/
on all the right things. status/1850997008326087135
We discussed #Bitcoin and
Stablecoins, as well as
the upcoming election--the
outcome will determine
whether or not we can fix
our broken country.
10/27/24 Elon Musk says we can rip https://x.com/
$2 trillion in waste from howardlutnick/
our budget. Let's do it. status/1850712956683575326
10/27/24 Let's go New York! We must https://x.com/
reelect @realDonaldTrump. howardlutnick/
https://t.co/UUUShjh0wB status/1850708009904722083
10/27/24 Thank you New York! We must https://x.com/
reelect @realDonaldTrump. howardlutnick/
https://t.co/LoDIQHoxeb status/1850707765011870125
10/27/24 The United States owns the https://x.com/
spectrum, and it should howardlutnick/
only be auctioned for use status/1850516349904146465
by those who agree to be
nonpartisan. Companies
that do business with
America shouldn't be
allowed to use that power
for partisan politics.
Simple rule: The Companies
that use the U.S.
government's
10/26/24 President Trump is the https://x.com/
business winner to run the howardlutnick/
country. Not a permanent status/1850355725244969054
politician who's never
created anything in her
life. https://t.co/
l2oJLAepul
10/25/24 The biggest business https://x.com/
leaders in our country howardlutnick/
support President Trump in status/1849831119358705968
this election. The stakes
are too high. And in 12
days, we'll all work
together to unleash the
power of the United States
of America. https://t.co/
mwNjcCYVPg
10/24/24 Inflation is up 20 percent https://x.com/
under the Harris-Biden howardlutnick/
administration, but they status/1849471351679070708
continue to lecture us
about economic policy.
President Trump has
solutions, and it starts
on day one when we put an
end to our unfair trade
relationships. https://
t.co/jN6OPt7Chk
10/22/24 Opening up our domestic https://x.com/
lithium reserves will howardlutnick/
fundamentally improve status/1848790890585751650
America. We will become
the lowest cost producer
of batteries and reduce
our ridiculous reliance on
imports. @elonmusk always
explains how costly and
absurd it is for him to
import lithium from
Australia for
10/22/24 I've gone to the top 150 https://x.com/
Republicans in the country howardlutnick/
and their message is status/1848777065312751783
simple: we're here to
help. These are the best
people driven by public
service and commitment to
President Trump's mission.
In 13 days, we will
reelect President Trump,
then the work begins.
https://t.co/vqL1DX1YMs
10/21/24 The price of McDonalds https://x.com/
French Fries has gone up howardlutnick/
44 percent in the past status/1848457704890634467
five years. Have wages
risen significantly in
that period? No. And yet
the Democrats want you to
think you're better off
under the Biden-Harris
administration. We are
not. https://t.co/
kKkrIf5ltI
10/18/24 Thank you to Officer https://x.com/
Skomski and all of the howardlutnick/
officers of the @AHPOLICE status/1847463493798150387
for keeping us secure at
tonight's community
roundtable in Detroit.
Patriots! https://t.co/
WR9dJTJr6A
10/17/24 President Trump needs https://x.com/
allies in his howardlutnick/
administration, not status/1846967900558545327
staffers undermining his
agenda. There are over 70
million Trump supporters
across the country. And
the best people are ready
to take the field on day
one to Make America Great
Again. https://t.co/
6s9mRn5ZQz
10/16/24 It's nonsense that Ireland https://x.com/
of all places runs a trade howardlutnick/
surplus at our expense. We status/1846588966058799234
don't make anything here
anymore--even great
American cars are made in
Mexico. When we end this
nonsense, America will be
a truly great country
again. You'll be shocked!
10/14/24 Welcome to DOGE. We will https://x.com/
rip the waste out of our howardlutnick/
$6.5 Trillion budget. Our status/1845827179549982823
goal: Balance the Budget
of the USA. We must elect
Donald Trump President.
@elonmusk @realDonaldTrump
https://t.co/jTKBhr07m5
10/11/24 I like this one https:// https://x.com/
t.co/61Pv6DsXvQ howardlutnick/
status/1856152744945406281
10/9/24 Thanks @SenTedCruz for a https://x.com/
great discussion today. I howardlutnick/
appreciate your support! status/1866297418578301131
10/7/24 Today, I had the great https://x.com/
honor of accompanying howardlutnick/
President @realDonaldTrump status/1843401537650905408
to visit the tomb of Rebbe
Schneerson. We spent time
with Adi and Yael
Alexander, parents of Edan
(20 years old), one of the
American hostages held by
Hamas in Gaza for the last
year. @benshapiro also
joined
10/7/24 When a President asks you https://x.com/
to serve, you serve. I am howardlutnick/
proud to co-lead the Trump/ status/1843273849175208387
Vance 2025 Transition
team. @FT https://t.co/
WyRgTCBeMj
10/4/24 At first glance, today's https://x.com/
jobs report numbers look howardlutnick/
rosy, but there's a lot status/1842269206873870783
more going on under the
hood. Let's break it down:
9,000
transportation and
warehousing jobs were lost
last month.
Another 7,000
manufacturing jobs
disappeared, continuing
the trend of these jobs
10/3/24 This is correct. https://x.com/
@realDonaldTrump will use howardlutnick/
tariffs to build back status/1841904040701296841
American factories and
industry. On top of that,
we will earn significant
revenues from these
tariffs to help balance
our budget instead of
dramatically raising taxes
on Americans. Some
countries will choose to
10/1/24 Senator @JDVance was very https://x.com/
clear tonight--he cares howardlutnick/
about the working men and status/1841321449887305814
women of America. That's
what came through in the
#VPDebate. Watch my
interview with
@BloombergTV. https://t.co/
7RHfsQQOsM
10/1/24 Tune into @BloombergTV to https://x.com/
hear my take on tonight's howardlutnick/
#VPDebate. status/1841311801385894383
10/1/24 Senator @JDVance is https://x.com/
fearless and that's what howardlutnick/
you're going to see in the status/1841282088634327518
#VPDebate tonight. He had
a difficult childhood, but
his story reflects the
American dream. I spoke
with @BBCNews about who he
is and how he and
President @realDonaldTrump
will fight for American
workers if https://t.co/
OZsJ3zgYZu
10/1/24 I just wrapped up with https://x.com/
@FoxBusiness where I howardlutnick/
explained how President status/1841269066276667705
@realDonaldTrump and
@JDVance's economic
policies are going to
bring jobs that Americans
need back to our country.
We need President Trump to
protect and defend our
workforce. We need a
commander in chief. https:/
/t.co/E35dRamRX1
10/1/24 In just a few minutes I'll https://x.com/
be joining @BBCNews to howardlutnick/
discuss all things status/1841268494798585930
#VPDebate. Watch live.
10/1/24 I'm about to be live on https://x.com/
@FoxBusiness talking about howardlutnick/
the #VPDebate. Tune in for status/1841250844186128721
my thoughts on what to
watch for in tonight's
debate.
10/1/24 Tonight, Senator @JDVance https://x.com/
is going to show the rest howardlutnick/
of the country what I know status/1841239332159426576
personally, that he is a
man of integrity, with our
Nation's best interests at
heart. When he visited BGC
Group on 9/11, he spoke
with deep compassion and
kindness about the loss we
experienced 23 https://
t.co/0EjIi99l5g
10/1/24 President https://x.com/
@realDonaldTrump's Op-Ed howardlutnick/
in @Newsweek today is a status/1841195302075641984
strong, clear statement on
how he will end the
gutting of our American
manufacturing, mining, and
drilling workforce and
bring back these jobs to
America. His plans are pro
our American workers. We
will deliver his vison
9/30/24 On day one of https://x.com/
@realDonaldTrump's second howardlutnick/
term, we will field an status/1840744409362497607
incredible group of
talented individuals to
execute President Trump's
policies. Every day, world-
class people come up to me
and say they want to help
and/or serve. I cannot
wait.
9/28/24 Harris's tax policy will https://x.com/
crush innovation in howardlutnick/
America. Taxing unrealized status/1840067302147912186
capital gains would
destroy venture capital
and innovation for tech
and health care companies,
severely limiting their
ability to raise capital.
They must raise funds to
grow. If she taxes that
pipeline, we https://t.co/
Ju4Hd5PAFv
8/23/24 Speculation about where the https://twitter.com/
Fed is going with rates is howardlutnick/
all over the place, but status/1826963963914924036
I'm sticking with the call
I've been making all year.
One cut. It'll come in
September just to show off
before the election.
https://twitter.com/
howardlutnick/
status/1826963963914924036/
video/1
8/22/24 I look forward to https://twitter.com/
supporting President howardlutnick/
Trump, working alongside status/1826431777096827037
this incredible group of
individuals.
https://twitter.com/
howardlutnick/
status/1826431777096827037/
photo/1
8/21/24 One of America's greatest https://twitter.com/
strengths is that the howardlutnick/
dollar is everywhere-- status/1826329920366411872
circulating globally,
being used as the world's
reserve currency.
@Tether_to has taken that
to the next level by
putting $USDT, the digital
dollar, into the hands of
people in emerging markets
across the
8/21/24 I was on @MariaBartiromo's https://twitter.com/
show this morning howardlutnick/
discussing President status/1826320857863446638
Trump's economic policies.
Reduce regulation, lower
taxes, bring businesses
back to our country, and
unleash American
ingenuity. These policies
really work for our
American economy.
@FoxBusiness https://
twitter.com/morningsmaria/
status/1826245367849238692
8/21/24 I was on @MariaBartiromo's https://twitter.com/
show this morning howardlutnick/
discussing President status/1826320234686386565
Trump's economic policies.
Reduce regulation, lower
taxes, bring businesses
back to our country, and
unleash American
ingenuity. These policies
really work for our
American economy.
@MorningsMaria
@FoxBusiness
8/9/24 I had the pleasure of https://twitter.com/
hosting President Trump at howardlutnick/
my home last week, status/1821923618063810729
surrounded by 130
supporters who share his
vision for America. During
the evening, he answered
questions and spoke on the
key topics impacting our
country and the world at
large. I believe his
policies will be https://
twitter.com/howardlutnick/
status/1821923618063810729/
photo/1
8/9/24 I had the pleasure of https://twitter.com/
hosting President Trump at howardlutnick/
my home last week, status/1821908546520227849
surrounded by 130
supporters who share his
vision for America. During
the evening, he answered
questions and spoke on the
key topics impacting our
country and the world at
large. I believe his
policies will be https://
twitter.com/howardlutnick/
status/1821908546520227849/
photo/1
8/9/24 I had the pleasure of https://twitter.com/
hosting President Trump at howardlutnick/
my home last week, status/1821902015875698984
surrounded by 130
supporters who share his
vision for America. During
the evening, he answered
questions and spoke on the
key topics impacting our
country and the world at
large. I believe his
policies will be https://
twitter.com/howardlutnick/
status/1821902015875698984/
pho to/1
8/6/24 Former President Trump https://twitter.com/
knows what needs to be howardlutnick/
done to make America great status/1820952994482909380
for business again. At the
recent fundraiser I hosted
for him we raised $15M to
send him back to the White
House. Incredible. https://
twitter.com/howardlutnick/
status/1820952994482909380/
photo/1
8/6/24 The #Bitcoin welcome party https://twitter.com/
is heating up. https:// howardlutnick/
twitter.com/ status/1820903573711917490
BitcoinMagazine/status/
1820821552172089619
8/5/24 We need a second term for https://twitter.com/
President Trump. https:// howardlutnick/
twitter.com/MarioNawfal/ status/1820462701816242276
status/1820440101328920778
8/2/24 I have known Former https://twitter.com/
President @realDonaldTrump howardlutnick/
for decades--I was even a status/1819367756279509350
guest on The Apprentice
back in 2008. I appreciate
his kind words about me
and Cantor Fitzgerald
during his speech at
@TheBitcoinConf. It's
exciting to see him take a
supportive stance on
#Bitcoin, https://
twitter.com/howardlutnick/
status/1819367756279509350/
video/1
7/31/24 I am a fan of #Bitcoin. https://twitter.com/
Cantor Fitzgerald is a fan howardlutnick/
of Bitcoin, and our status/1818734868886684076
investment bank is a
rockstar in the digital
asset space. We are just
getting started. Watch my
full speech at
@TheBitcoinConf Nashville
2024. https://twitter.com/
howardlutnick/status/
1818734868886684076/video/
1
7/31/24 It's nice when the whole https://twitter.com/
world agrees with howardlutnick/
something I've been saying status/1818678297049375109
for months--interest rates
are staying put until
September. @BloombergTV
@sonalibasak @kgreifeld
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sKKh0JnmuR8
7/31/24 It's nice when the whole https://twitter.com/
world agrees with howardlutnick/
something I've been saying status/1818678110071542182
for months--interest rates
are staying put until
September. https://
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=sKKh0JnmuR8
7/28/24 Cantor is a rockstar in the https://twitter.com/
digital space. We work howardlutnick/
with miners, power, data status/1817371827280232471
centers. We are here to
support you if you are in
the business of digital
assets and crypto.
7/22/24 I'm seeing a lot to like in https://twitter.com/
the next few months First, howardlutnick/
what would a new status/1815396236775575928
administration mean for
the markets? The current
stock market is doing
pretty well, but it's
being driven largely by
the seven largest tech
firms. Republicans like
lower corporate tax rates
and less https://
twitter.com/howardlutnick/
status/1815396236775575928/
video/1
7/2/24 .@BillAckman @POTUS @FLOTUS https://twitter.com/
I've been saying this all howardlutnick/
along. Jill Biden doesn't status/1808105259174068731
want to give up the power.
He doesn't fight her, so
the presidency is
effectively shared by
FLOTUS. She attends his
meetings and ``helps'' him
decide issues. Why should
She give up the nomination
and the power?
6/19/24 The group of governments https://twitter.com/
known as BRICS, (Brazil, howardlutnick/
Russia, India, China and status/1803429352773697971
South Africa), has now
invited Iran to join. This
is literally the fight
over the U.S. dollar bring
the currency of the world.
The U.S. needs responsible
dollar-backed stablecoins.
The digital dollar matters
6/13/24 Not surprised by the Fed's https://
decision this week--I've twitter.comlhowardlutnick/
been saying this all year.
Even with inflation status/1801352339443405113
numbers coming in better
than expected, there was
only ever going to be one
cut this year. Likely
September.
6/3/24 Very thoughtful analysis https://
from @belier. This is how twitter.comlhowardlutnick/
Americans should be
thinking about status/1797670113241600275
stablecoins. The Dollar
Matters. https://
twitter.com/NFX/status/
1796190583775547524
5/31/24 Here's something I'm https://
keeping an eye on. Biden twitter.comlhowardlutnick/
has a resolution from
Congress on his desk (one status/1796576178578374778
of the few bipartisan
wins) that overturns the
SEC's SAB 121, which
Congress realized is
ridiculous. SAB 121 forces
banks to record digital
assets on their balance
sheets, unlike other
5/23/24 SEC has approved the $ETH https://
spot ETF. $BTC was moving twitter.comlhowardlutnick/
earlier this week based on
the rumors. BTC owners status/1793777661510046141
should view ETH as a BTC
levered derivative--same
direction but more
volatility. In my opinion,
Gensler knows that his
boss needs every vote and
made the right call. I
view...
1/16/24 No chance #Fed cutting https://
175bps in 2024. $BGC stock twitter.comlhowardlutnick/
performance off the charts
because interest rates are status/1747382563843330374
back. BGC's Futures
Exchange, #FMX, to compete
with the CME in 2024.
$USDT and $BTC are the two
great crypto assets.
https://www.voutube.com/
watch?v=9bS30TgaHp4
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LinkedIn
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Content Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10/28/24 Amazing conversation with https://www.linkedin.com/
Anthony Pompliano--he's feed/
focused on all the right update/urn:li:ugcPost:
things. We discussed Bitcoin 7256801571110309888
and Stablecoins, as well as
the upcoming election--the
outcome will determine
whether or not we can fix
our broken country.
10/07/24 Today, I had the great honor https://www.linkedin.com/
of accompanying President feed/
Donald Trump to visit the update/urn:li:ugcPost:
tomb of Rebbe Schneerson. We 7249169069709389825
spent time with Adi and Yael
Alexander, parents of Edan
(20 years old), one of the
American hostages held by
Hamas in Gaza for the last
year. Ben Shapiro also
joined us for this
incredibly moving October
7th memorial. President
Trump stands with Israel and
the Jewish people all around
the world. #StandwithIsrael
#FreeEdan #BringThemHomeNow
10/04/24 At first glance, today's jobs https://www.linkedin.com/
report numbers look rosy, feed/
but there's a lot more going update/urn:li:share:
on under the hood. Let's 7248034487542906880
break it down:
9,000 transportation and
warehousing jobs were lost
last month. Another
7,000 manufacturing jobs
disappeared, continuing the
trend of these jobs going
overseas due to anti-
business policies in the US.
The number of long-
term unemployed Americans
shot up by 97,000.
Hardworking Americans are
struggling to find jobs, and
it's not getting easier.
According to MarketWatch,
two-thirds of Americans
report living paycheck to
paycheck. This is not an
America with a thriving
workforce. We need to stem
the flow of jobs leaving the
country and take better care
of our workers. Our citizens
deserve a chance to thrive--
not struggle to survive.
10/01/24 President Donald Trump's Op- https://www.linkedin,com/
Ed in Newsweek today is a feed/
strong, clear statement on update/urn:li:share:
how he will end the gutting 7246960927017725952
of our American
manufacturing, mining, and
drilling workforce and bring
back these jobs to America.
His plans are pro our
American workers. We will
deliver his vison and
rebuild America into an
industrial and manufacturing
powerhouse.
09/27/24 Yesterday, I told Maria https://www.linkedin.com/
Bartiromo that Bitcoin is a feed/
commodity. When you truly update/urn:li:ugcPost:
understand Bitcoin, it's 7245448713966358528
hard to see it any other
way.
09/18/24 As I predicted in December https://www.linkedin.com/
2023 and again in January feed/
2024, the Fed started update/urn:li:share:
cutting rates today. 50 7242235618859130880
basis points is a big red
flag. Remember the Fed has
much more timely economic
data than the rest of us.
This means our economy is in
much worse shape than we all
thought. This is a bad sign
for the economy heading into
November.
09/16/24 President Donald Trump's https://www.linkedin.com/
policies will set the United feed/
States on the path to update/urn:li:share:
financial success. His 7241458171045646337
leadership on tax rates,
which will drive businesses
to invest in America,
tariffs, which will protect
American jobs and reduce our
deficit, and fundamental
reductions in regulation to
unleash American ingenuity,
are desperately needed to
keep our markets healthy and
our country growing. Watch
me explain his plan on CNBC.
09/13/24 Rosanna Scotto and Good Day https://www.linkedin.com/
New York joined us at BGC feed/
Group for a first-hand look update/urn:li:ugcPost:
at what we accomplish 7240433032430514176
together during the Cantor
Fitzgerald Relief Fund's
Charity Day. I am proud of
the work that we continue to
do in memory of our 658
Cantor Fitzgerald and 61
Euro Brokers colleagues who
were killed on 9/11.
#CFCharityDay
09/13/24 This week Cantor Fitzgerald https://www.linkedin.com/
and BGC Group raised feed/
millions for charity and update/urn:li:ugcPost:
honored the Cantor 7240344100506406914
Fitzgerald employees who
were killed on 9/11. I went
on Fox Business Network with
Liz Claman to talk about
Charity Day and what we need
to do to make sure our
country never faces a
tragedy like 9/11 again.
09/12/24 What happened to Cantor https://www.linkedin.com/
Fitzgerald on 9/11 should feed/
never be allowed to happen update/urn:li:share:
again. Watch my full 7239839011375108096
interview on Bloomberg
Television with Sonali Basak
today, where we talk about
our Charity Day, Trump's
policies--including national
security--and a huge
announcement on our upcoming
FMX Futures Exchange launch.
09/03/24 Over the last five years, https://www.linkedin.com/
Bitcoin has been an outsider feed/
to the tradfi community, and update/urn:li:ugcPost:
it's only now dipping its 7236846545642340356
toe into global finance.
Cantor will help tradfi
bring Bitcoin all the way
in. Tradfi wants new asset
classes, and BTC is here to
stay.
08/23/24 Speculation about where the https://www.linkedin.com/
Fed is going with rates is feed/
all over the place, but I'm update/urn:li:ugcPost:
sticking with the call I've 7232731338712182784
been making all year. One
cut. It'll come in September
just to show off before the
election.
08/21/24 One of America's greatest https://www.linkedin.com/
strengths is that the dollar feed/
is everywhere--circulating update/urn:li:share:
globally, being used as the 7232107867661557761
world's reserve currency.
Tether.io has taken that to
the next level by putting
USDT, the digital dollar,
into the hands of people in
emerging markets across the
world. Since USDT is backed
by tens of billions of U.S.
Treasuries, the 300 million
USDT wallet holders around
the world are helping
finance our debt. Bloomberg
News, Liz Capo McCormick
08/09/24 I had the pleasure of hosting https://www.linkedin.com/
President Trump at my home feed/
last week, surrounded by 130 update/urn:li:share:
supporters who share his 7227689539807391746
vision for America. During
the evening, he answered
questions and spoke on the
key topics impacting our
country and the world at
large. I believe his
policies will be critical in
ensuring American businesses
remain successful and our
role on the world stage
remains strong. I'm proud
together we raised $15
million.
07/31/24 I was honored to speak at https://www.linkedin.com/
Bitcoin Nashville, alongside feed/
my good friends, Former update/urn:li:share:
President Donald Trump, 7224502473892192257
Vivek Ramaswamy, and Chris
Pavlovski. I believe in a
future where Bitcoin trades
freely around the world. And
we are going to do
everything in our power to
make it so that Bitcoin does
just that--without exception
and without limitation.
Cantor Fitzgerald is a
powerhouse group of
companies that specializes
in advising miners, power,
and data center businesses.
And now, we're launching a
new Bitcoin Financing
business with $2B to start--
it will be a game changer.
If you're in the digital
space, we're here for you.
07/23/24 I'm seeing a lot to like in https://www.linkedin.com/
the next few months First, feed/
what would a new update/urn:li:ugcPost:
administration mean for the 7221634961307508737
markets? The current stock
market is doing pretty well,
but it's being driven
largely by the seven largest
tech firms. Republicans like
lower corporate tax rates
and less regulation, so a
Trump presidency will lower
those tax rates and bring
back business to the US.
Then, you'll see small caps
rally and drive the market
higher. That opens up a lot
of opportunities for M&A,
and that's where Cantor
Fitzgerald excels. Next, the
commercial real estate
landscape is going to
generate a massive amount of
opportunity, and Newmark is
going to come out on top.
For the last 14 years, we've
seen interest rates at 0
percent. Real estate is a
breathing bond, and interest
rates coming back in the
last couple of years are
crushing inflated real
estate values. A quarter-
percent cut in September
isn't going to make a bit of
difference. Banks aren't
going to lend those numbers,
so our business, which is
financing, leasing, and
selling buildings, is going
to be on fire. Everybody
needs money to refinance,
and we're the ones who can
find it. And maybe the most
fun part--we're going to
shake up the futures market.
BGC Group is the exchange
for everything that doesn't
trade on an exchange. When I
tell people that they ask,
``Then why don't you create
an exchange?'' So, we did.
And it's coming. The FMX
Futures Exchange is going to
take on a perfect monopoly--
the CME. Every piece of the
puzzle is set. Every
regulatory approval. Ten of
the largest trading firms in
the world as our partners.
Cross margining and clearing
through LCH. It's going to
be great. Thanks CNBC, Sara
Eisen, and Carl Quintanilla
for having me on.
06/13/24 Not surprised by the Fed's https://www.linkedin.com/
decision this week--I've feed/
been saying this all year. update/urn:li:share:
Even with inflation numbers 7207117336007356416
coming in better than
expected, there was only
ever going to be one cut
this year. Likely September.
05/31/24 Here's something I'm keeping https://www.linkedin.com/
an eye on. Biden has a feed/
resolution from Congress on update/urn:li:share:
his desk (one of the few 7202341718300475392
bipartisan wins) that
overturns the SEC's SAB 121,
which Congress realized is
ridiculous. SAB 121 forces
banks to record digital
assets on their balance
sheets, unlike other client
assets. The admin said Biden
wants to veto the
resolution--he has until
Monday to make the call. SAB
121 keeps banks out of the
digital asset custody and
clearing business. Why? We
need to encourage, not
discourage, traditional
finance in the digital
world. Last week's green
light from the SEC for the
ETH ETF was correct. Let's
hope they get this right
too.
05/02/24 In December and January, I https://www.linkedin.com/
went on CNBC, Bloomberg, and feed/
CNN and made my rates call-- update/urn:li:ugcPost:
they are going nowhere. 7191817013982302208
Steady Eddie. The Fed made
that clear yesterday. I'm
thinking just one cut in
September ahead of the
election, just to show off,
but steady until then.
That's the call I made on
CNBC Overtime yesterday.
High rates for longer has
real consequences. The
commercial real estate
market has $1 trillion of
mortgages coming due this
year, $500 billion in 2025,
and another in 2026--1/3
will default, 1/3 need to
find new lenders, and 1/3
need help recapitalizing.
This is where Newmark shines
and we project huge growth
in 2026 based on these macro
fundamentals. We wrapped up
our conversation with BGC
Group's exciting news--we're
partnering with 10 of the
best investment banks and
market marking firms to take
on the CME. The FMX Futures
Exchange launches in
September! Let's go!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annex I (Social Media)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Platform Name Handle Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------
X @howardlutnick https://x.com/
howardlutnick
Truth Social @howardlutnick https://
truthsocial.com/
@howardlutnick
LinkedIn Howard Lutnick https://
www.linkedin.com/in/
howardwlutnick/
Instagram @howardlutnick https://
www.instagram.com/
howardlutnick/
YouTube @howardw.lutnick https://
www.youtube.com/
@howardw.lutnick
Facebook Howard Lutnick https://
www.facebook.com/
lutnick
Rumble @HowardLutnick https://rumble.com/c/
HowardLutnick
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Lutnick. Thank you
for that heartfelt opening statement. Your background is very
impressive. Not only have you led several companies, which are
global leaders in financial services, real estate, and
brokerage, you rebuilt Cantor Fitzgerald in the wake of the
unspeakable tragedy of 9/11. I appreciate your willingness now
to serve your nation.
Let me start with just a general question. Why do you want
to be the Secretary of Commerce?
Mr. Lutnick. I think America is in a place to teach the
world and to show the world what leadership is like, what a
great economy is like, what taking care of its Americans is
like. And to be part of that Administration, be part of this
historic Trump administration, is one of the great honors of my
life. So I am just looking forward to being a part of this
Administration, to play my part in helping drive our economy's
growth and driving the support and dedication to our American
people.
The Chairman. So in your business career you have been very
successful. You have made a lot of money. You have told this
committee, in your questionnaire, that you plan to divest your
business interests in accordance with Federal laws and
regulations to avoid any conflict of interest. Can you explain
what your plan is regarding your business interests and whether
you will consult with the designated agency ethics officials?
Mr. Lutnick. So my plan is to only serve the American
people, so I will divest, meaning I will sell all of my
interests, all of my business interests, all of my assets,
everything. I have worked together with the Office of
Government Ethics, and we have reached agreement on how to do
that, and I will be divesting within 90 days, upon my
confirmation. So I should have no business interests,
therefore, no conflicts of interest.
I made the decision that I have made enough money in my
life. I can take care of myself. I can take care of my family.
It is now my chance to serve the American people. So upon
confirmation, my businesses will be for sale, and someone else
will lead them, going forward. But the Office of Government
Ethics and I have reached agreement, we have signed the
document, I have made it public, and going forward I will
always consult--the Commerce Department has a great Ethics
Department. I have already met with them, and I plan to stay in
close contact with them and avoid all conflicts so I can just
serve America.
The Chairman. Thank you for that. Let's move to one of the
important responsibilities you will have as Secretary of
Commerce. The National Telecommunication and Information
Administration, NTIA, is the lead agency for managing Federal
Government spectrum, including critical mid-band spectrum. Over
the past several years, Majority Leader Thune, Senator
Blackburn, and I have all worked closely on a bill that would
require NTIA to identify Federal spectrum that can be more
efficiently used, freeing up some of that spectrum for
commercial users.
To dominate in next-generation wireless technologies, 5G
and 6G, to stay ahead of our adversaries, and to advance strong
economic growth, the U.S. must create a pipeline to expand
commercial access to mid-band spectrum.
Will you commit to working closely with myself, other
members of this committee, on solutions that will expand
commercial sector access to this key spectrum while, at the
same time, protecting U.S. national security interests?
Mr. Lutnick. You have got to ask me a tougher question than
that. Absolutely, yes.
The Chairman. So tell this committee, in your judgment--all
right, let's try not a tougher one, but a natural follow up.
Why is freeing up more commercial spectrum important? Why
should the American people care that we get this accomplished?
Mr. Lutnick. So we start by the NTIA is sort of the
coordinator and the advisor to the Administration on spectrum.
There are enormous amounts of spectrum held by the Department
of Defense, right, and for our country to really reach the
scale that it can be for it to be successful we need to be the
leader in the world of 5G and 6G. So we have got to work
closely with the Department of Defense, as you said. We have
got to make sure, of course, to protect ourselves. But with all
due respect, if I am going to be your Secretary of Commerce, I
kind of lean toward commerce. So I would like to try to help us
drive some of that spectrum toward our businesses, to free us
to be the leader in spectrum in the world.
The Chairman. Well, thank you. I look forward to working
with you on that.
Let's turn to NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. Last year, an activist judge in Maryland
vacated NOAA's existing biological opinion for the then-Gulf of
Mexico. I would note that President Trump has renamed the Gulf.
I have to say, I am partial to calling it the Gulf of Texas,
but everyone can have their own opinion on that matter.
NOAA must now file a new biological opinion on offshore
work in the Gulf by May 21. NOAA is notoriously slow moving on
these biological opinions, and if it fails to get this one done
on time, it could shut down oil and gas operations in the Gulf.
Can you commit to hold NOAA's feet to the fire to make sure
that it meets the May 21 deadline for reissuing this biological
opinion?
Mr. Lutnick. I will work hard to make sure they meet that
deadline, and we do our job on time, rigorously and
thoughtfully, and we will, if I have anything to do with it to
get it in.
The Chairman. And can you further commit that you will do
everything to ensure that NOAA does not actively hamper energy
production in the Gulf such as by implementing unverified and
unsafe vessel speed restrictions?
Mr. Lutnick. I can commit to that. I do not understand. I
will study, of course, the work of NOAA, but the speed
restrictions seem illogical to our fishermen and to our
businesses, so they need to be studied. But you have to take
care of Americans as well. How about we put that at the top of
the list? Let's take care of Americans.
The Chairman. Thank you. Ranking Member Cantwell.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and again, Mr.
Lutnick, thank you for your symbol of resiliency. It really is
quite remarkable. Thank you for sharing even those most
personal moments because I am sure it is hard to do no matter
how many times you have done it, so thank you.
I want to go as fast as I can, so if you can help me by
being short answers, that would be great. I could cover more
territory. Do you believe that the investments that we have
made in the CHIPS and Science Act should be preserved?
Mr. Lutnick. I think they are an excellent downpayment. As
a structure, I think we need to get it right. I think we need
to review them and get it right. But as the way the Congress
has set it, it is an excellent downpayment in our ability to
bring semiconductor manufacturing back to America.
Senator Cantwell. OK. It is good to hear because the
President has said a little differently on that point, so good
to hear. And then on NOAA, do you believe in keeping NOAA
together and its responsibilities together?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
Senator Cantwell. OK. We are hearing that maybe they are
going to try to separate some of it out and put it in Interior.
You would fight that?
Mr. Lutnick. I want to do it right, and right now, Commerce
is doing it right. We understand how to do it, and I expect to
continue to understand how to do it. So I have no interest in
separating it. That is not on my agenda.
Senator Cantwell. Good to hear. I believe we need a NOAA
Organic Act. Believe it or not, it is 60 percent of your
budget, and there is no underlying policy in the law about
NOAA. So to me, I think the way that my colleagues and I get
good fisheries management is to put that into the law and say
it is demanded, not what the whim of every scientist that comes
along with a new administration, but we will talk about that
later.
OK. Let's turn to the rulemaking that we are talking about.
ICU is a big rulemaker in a critical area, AI and exports, and
the challenges that we face as a nation. So I am trying to get
to who you are deep down about this, right, how are you going
to go about this really challenging task, because I have some
ideas about what I think make good principles here and why it
is so important. Because if you want to move fast, you have to
be collaborative. I know other people think you can just my way
or the highway, but usually, that does not work. And so the
ramifications, the best thing that we can do is work together
collaboratively like we did on CHIPS and Science.
OK, so did you advise the President or anyone in his
Administration on his meme coins?
Mr. Lutnick. I did not.
Senator Cantwell. OK. Can you help me on this treasury
issue, this little fight between Cantor Fitzgerald and CME, the
settling of treasuries at the London Exchange. I do not
understand this as it relates to a hierarchy of putting the
United States treasuries in some drastic situation which we did
not see before, right, on our debt, and the debt ceiling is
this debate we are having. Are we going to pass the debt
ceiling or not? So why do you believe that settling in a London
Exchange would be good for U.S. treasuries?
Mr. Lutnick. It was just the people speaking about it did
not understand it. All U.S. treasuries are held by banks of the
Federal Reserve in the United States of America. They cannot
leave. So where the software was written, wherever it is
written, the treasuries themselves, they always stay in
America, the settling of treasury futures, of course, is in
America. The partner Cantor Fitzgerald chose was the London
Stock Exchange, which, of course, has been registered with the
CME properly since the year 2000. So it was just a lack of
understanding, good for the press, bad for knowledge. They just
got it wrong.
Senator Cantwell. I personally do not think this is--look,
somebody tried to make my state the deep pockets on an Enron
default, and I did not appreciate it, and I passed a new law
against the manipulation. So I know this very well. In fact,
the Treasury Secretary just got asked by my colleague, Senator
Cornyn, in a hearing last week what he thought about this. And
he was like, ``No. It shouldn't be ever.'' U.S. treasuries in a
debt hierarchy of a failure should never have London making
decisions before we make decisions. And so I will ask you more
for the record about that. But I think Mr. Bessent got it
right, and I hope that we can get a better answer from you.
On the one-to-one issue, I get that Tether had a problem,
they basically were not. As a stablecoin exchange, you came in,
the CFTC fined them, and then you came into the picture. And so
my question is are you prepared, do you think the market needs
to comply with audits about whether one-to-one ratios really
exist on stablecoins?
Mr. Lutnick. I believe stablecoins, U.S. dollar
stablecoins, should be audited, should be completely backed by
U.S. treasuries, 100 percent.
Senator Cantwell. But how do we prove that if necessary, is
my question?
Mr. Lutnick. Well, an audit, U.S. audit and one-to-one
backed by U.S. treasuries, and last, you cannot change the
rules, meaning if someone has bought the stablecoin, you cannot
change the price. If someone has made a deposit with you, you
cannot say I am going to withdraw, you are going to change the
price.
Senator Cantwell. So you really believe in a robust audit
process and more opening than it exists today?
Mr. Lutnick. For sure.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you. OK. Did you ever own Tether?
Mr. Lutnick. A Tether? No.
Senator Cantwell. Any Tether, any backdoor. Did you own
Tether?
Mr. Lutnick. Cantor Fitzgerald, if you are asking for me,
no. Cantor Fitzgerald has no equity in Tether.
Senator Cantwell. I am not trying to be clever here. I am
trying to get did you or Cantor Fitzgerald own Tether other
than the one-to-one backing?
Mr. Lutnick. Sorry. I am trying to answer, so----
Senator Cantwell. Did you as an investor ever invest or own
Tether, or did anybody at Cantor Fitzgerald other than the one-
to-one backing own Tether?
Mr. Lutnick. Cantor Fitzgerald owns a convertible bond with
Tether, so is has a bond with Tether.
Senator Cantwell. OK. So now this back again to this big
task on export controls and thwarting China and dealing with
this AI problem and all the various interests, I mean, I do
have some concerns too. I am a big crypto person in general, as
I said, CFTC oversight, but this issue about Tether and the
amount of illicit market funding of Tether, the analysts who do
this work now--I am for a more robust system--but the analysts
who do it now think there is as much as $19 billion on Tether
could be illicit activity by the North Koreans, the Russians,
the Chinese. And so what do we do about that? What is your
solution?
Mr. Lutnick. So the number one instrument of the world of
criminals is the U.S. dollar. The number two is the Euro. So
these are just the things that people use. So Tether is the
largest stablecoin, so criminals use it more than Circle, which
is the second largest, has a ratio of the same. It is like
blaming Apple because criminals use Apple phones. It is just a
product. We do not pick on the U.S. treasury because criminals
use dollars.
So I think it is just a product. They are, and I have asked
them to and they are, signed up with all U.S. Federal law
enforcement. They follow all Federal law enforcement instantly.
Senator Cantwell. So that is like saying that if you get a
request from the FBI or DOJ, you are going to comply with maybe
that wallet is doing, involved in illicit activity. I am asking
you a different question. When you have Know Your Customers and
any money laundering requirements, why aren't we taking more
seriously a potential $19 billion illicit market that is going
against the United States?
So obviously, we have other ways to track dollars, and we
use those, and that is how we are successful. We have passed a
couple of things recently on fentanyl that have really helped
us track and basically crack down on this. But on Tether, it is
a big illicit market, potentially $19 billion, so I am wanting
to know from you, because again, it is back to this whole
crypto oversight, export controls, what are you going to do?
What do you recommend we do to try to get a handle on that?
Mr. Lutnick. So in my due diligence and Cantor Fitzgerald's
due diligence, Tether did no business with anyone who was not
KYC appropriate. The fact that at some point, their product was
bought by someone and used it inappropriately, I think it is
important for us----
Senator Cantwell. Do you think secondary markets need rules
here?
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, it is entirely secondary market, but I
think what we can do----
Senator Cantwell. So secondary markets need rules. Chairman
is going to cut me off, I am over my time, so thank you. But
could you just answer that? You can answer it for the record or
you can answer it now.
Mr. Lutnick. I think AI tools used by the U.S. Government
running through the blockchain of stablecoin issuers will rid
the world of criminals using blockchain for illicit activity.
Our ability to oversee that blockchain and rip through it with
AI tools will eliminate it.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you for that answer, and we will
follow up. But we need an aggressive--the complexity here on
conflict of interest, not you per se but in general, is a very
big challenge here. So thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Leader Thune.
Senator Thune. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I think we have
covered already the issue of spectrum, but we look forward to
working with you on that. That is a critically important issue
for our economy and our leadership in the world.
I want to come back quickly to the NTIA Broadband Equity
Access and Deployment Program. I did not vote for the
legislation that created this program, but it provided over $42
billion to expand Internet access to rural areas. And as you
likely know, the program is yet to connect a single household.
And the Biden administration included a number of requirements
not envisioned by Congress in the program including climate
change mandates, rate regulation, onerous labor requirements,
and other concerning items, which is why they have not signed
anybody up. And there is not a single telecom in South Dakota
which represents and serves a lot of underserved areas that can
use the program because of all these mandates and conditions
they put on it.
So my question is, will you commit to working with states
to remove these requirements so that funds can go to truly
unserved areas?
Mr. Lutnick. I am going to work to make sure that Congress
gets the benefit of the bargain. You want to get broadband into
the hands of low income people, let's go do it. But let's do it
efficiently and let's do it swiftly. Let's use satellites,
let's use wireless, and let's use fiber. And let's do it the
cheapest, most efficiently we can, and I commit to working with
you to make sure the states execute and deliver on the promise
that Congress has made.
Senator Thune. And will you also work to ensure that this
BEAD funding is only used for actual broadband infrastructure
builds?
Mr. Lutnick. Absolutely.
Senator Thune. Well, thank you. I also mentioned, and you
have talked about it already, alluded to artificial
intelligence, but I believe we need to craft a legislative
framework that provides basic accountability for high-risk AI
models without onerous regulations. And as you and I know, the
Biden administration only viewed AI as a threat that should be
controlled. And I was encouraged to see President Trump's
executive order reversing Biden's sweeping AI executive order
and for his leadership in developing a comprehensive pro-
innovation AI plan that strengthens U.S. global leadership in
AI.
So I want to just get you, if you can, to talk generally,
if confirmed, how you would approach AI regulation and to
harness major advancements in artificial intelligence?
Mr. Lutnick. So the Department of Commerce has led the
world in cyber. Our cyber technology and cyber rules are the
gold standard of the world. Let's leverage that model into the
standards for artificial intelligence. Let's use what we are
great at and leverage that again and use it again.
So rather than think about it, we want to make sure we
protect and defend our country, but we want to make sure that
we lead. It has to be an American-driven leadership in AI. It
is fundamental. So leverage what we are great at, and issue
standards and practices like we did in cyber that will
encourage private sector to be the dominant winner, as we are
in America, we have got to do that and make sure we win in AI
as well.
Senator Thune. And I just think it is really important is
we think about it that we do not stifle innovation. We want to
be the leader. A light touch approach to this is what makes
sense to me, and I hope as we move forward and Senator
Klobuchar and I and others on this committee have a bill that
we think gets at that, and I hope that we have an opportunity
to work. This is one of those issues that ought to be
bipartisan up here, I certainly think.
I have a minute left, and I am yielding it back, Mr.
Chairman because Senator Wicker reminded me that I have used a
minute prior to my question time. He said three minutes, it was
not really three minutes, but----
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Klobuchar.
STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA
Senator Klobuchar. This is why Senator Thune is the leader.
We like that.
Welcome. Thank you. We talked in my office about how I
truly believe that if we are going to lead the global economy,
and I know you share this belief, that we must make stuff,
invent things, export to the world. And we made huge bipartisan
progress on that front. Not everything has been done, we all
know that, and we want to continue America's lead and
competitive edge.
One way we have done that, and Senator Cantwell asked you
about this, is by groundbreaking investments in chips and
semiconductors. Despite being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, I have
actually never called about fish to the Commerce Department.
But I have talked about these issues.
So I just want to follow up on her question and just that
Secretary Raimondo has done admirable work, I think, for both
sides of the aisle on this and if you are going to continue to
operate the CHIPS program?
Mr. Lutnick. It is vital for America that we bring
semiconductor manufacturing to the United States of America. We
need domestic manufacturing. The CHIPS Act was an excellent
down payment to begin that process. We need to study it. But we
need to make sure that you get the benefit of the bargain, and
domestic manufacturing of semiconductors happens in America.
Senator Klobuchar. Got it. But are you going to keep
operating this, because as the Senator mentioned, there are
funds that have to be distributed, there is work that has to be
done coming out of that law?
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, I expect to do enormous work to make sure
you get the benefit of the bargain, we get the money out
appropriately, correctly, and we build in America. That is
vital. You have done it bipartisan, and I am going to help
execute that.
Senator Klobuchar. So were you concerned about the freeze
that happened, the proposed freeze would have affected that
program. It is now on hold, temporary hold, because of a judge.
But are you concerned about that?
Mr. Lutnick. Well, you let me have the time to, A, be
confirmed, and B, dig in and study all of the documents that we
have done so I can help get it out the door and get it done. We
need manufacturing, I agree, we need manufacturing
semiconductors in America, and I am going to do everything I
can to make that happen.
Senator Klobuchar. Great. Your life story is incredible,
your motivation of your employees after this incredible
tragedy. You and I talked about the Commerce Department. And
some of the people that went to work there went for other
reasons than your employees. They are not making as much money.
And I personally have worked with the people who do trade
enforcement for steel dumping. Both Vice President Vance and I
share mines, and we care about this a lot, iron ore mines. And
it made a big difference over two Presidents' administrations,
when this enforcement--President Obama, Trump, Biden--actually
was continued. And I met with who will be your employees if
confirmed about this, 100 of them, and heard about the work
that they did.
How are you going to motivate those employees, because I
think they are feeling very much under pressure, and some of
them have expertise that if they leave, it is going to be
really hard just to hire someone because they are not going to
make as much money in the government as they might somewhere
else.
Mr. Lutnick. I think the members of the Commerce Department
are extraordinary. We have extraordinary scientists,
extraordinary people with deep intellect and deep knowledge.
And my job is going to be to leverage them, to make them feel
heard, and we are going to be responsive. And we will create a
great, a great Department of Commerce that the people feel
respected, heard, and their knowledge used to the betterment of
America, which is why they are there, and they are going to
know that I support them.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you. We talked about tariffs
briefly, targeted or across the board. I gave you my preference
toward targeted tariffs for our economy. Weigh in on that.
Mr. Lutnick. I prefer across the board. I think when you
pick one product in Mexico, they will pick one product. We pick
avocados, they pick white corn. We pick tomatoes, they pick
yellow corn. All you are doing is picking on farmers, which is
just not going to happen. My way of thinking, and I discussed
this with the President, is country by country, macro. Let
America make it more fair. We are treated horribly by the
global trading environment. They all have higher tariffs, non-
tariff trade barriers and subsidies. They treat us poorly. We
need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect.
We can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness, and
respect.
Senator Klobuchar. I am sure we will be discussing this
more. The last thing, just the broadband funding in the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. All of us in this committee have
worked on things like improving mapping. Senator Wicker and I--
--
Senator Wicker. Thank you.
Senator Klobuchar.--worked on that. You are welcome. And
the work that must be done on getting broadband to some of the
farthest corners of our country. We have an investment, once-
in-a-generation investment out of the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law. And again, the freeze would have affected this work,
temporarily on hold. Talk about your support for broadband.
Mr. Lutnick. Well, you passed the bill and they have not
put out any of the money, or nobody has gotten broadband. So it
is time for a new Commerce Secretary to get broadband out to
people and give you the benefit of the bargain. I want to give
the Congress the benefit of the bargain, which is you
appropriated money for broadband. Let's get it in their hands,
and let's do it. The pause just gives me time to, A, be
confirmed, and B, to study it, get the team working on it, and
then when that pause ends, to get it out the door, and get it
done.
Senator Klobuchar. I am out of time. Thanks.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Wicker.
STATEMENT OF HON. ROGER WICKER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI
Senator Wicker. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr.
Lutnick, I look forward to working with you. I think this is,
it is going to be fun and productive for the American people.
The Leader was correct. Some members of this committee
voted for the Infrastructure Act, and some of us did not, and
it was bipartisan. But I think we all agree that broadband is
one of the infrastructure issues of our time. It is really the
rural electrification issue of this century. Do you agree with
that?
Mr. Lutnick. It is vital to America.
Senator Wicker. Absolutely vital. And I would just point
out that, because we talked about it a lot, that not one single
household has been connected. I am told that that there has
been an endless round of back-and-forth negotiations about the
application process. It seems to me that a man like you is
going to be able to cut through that, at least tell the states,
``Yes, your application, we know what that is about, and we are
going to respond to your application.''
Mr. Lutnick. I expect the states to provide the most
efficient way, the most cost-efficient and effective way to get
broadband to every house. I heard a story where they were
planning to run fiber for $200,000 to a house that was worth
$125,000. The waste of America is over in the Commerce
Department.
Senator Wicker. Good.
Mr. Lutnick. We are going to get broadband to people, but
we are going to do it cost effectively, but get it. Get you the
benefit of the bargain.
Senator Wicker. Two more things, if I can squeeze in. I am
glad we mentioned NOAA. NOAA, the National Data Buoy Center is
at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. It is the
national premier rocket propulsion facility. In the next few
months, will you come see us and let me show you the great
potential we have there at the Stennis Space Center?
Mr. Lutnick. That sounds fun. Glad to.
Senator Wicker. OK, very good. So let's say by April.
Mr. Lutnick. Give me until May, shall you?
Senator Wicker. OK, all right. Good. We got a deal. OK.
Also, in addition to infrastructure, the CHIPS and Science
Act has been mentioned favorably. Let me mention the CHIPS and
Science Act as it connects with this Fiscal Year's NDAA. One of
the things we did with the CHIPS and Science Act was 220, well,
actually, $10 billion authorized for 20 regional tech hubs. The
first round has largely been approved.
In NDAA, we funded $220 million--it was authorized for $10
billion--$220 million for tech hubs and the potential for
another $280 million for a second round.
At this point, I understand your department has a choice.
It can either double up on those that have already been awarded
or it can try to drive regional growth and global
competitiveness by looking at other applications. That is what
I hope you will do.
I just want you to understand that there are a lot of us
who want you to work with Congress to maintain and grow the
Tech Hubs Program, particularly in rural areas. And I would
suggest that the Southeast did not do so well in the first
application. So will you agree to take a closer look at assets
in the Southeast region, include biotech companies, logistical
expertise, academic research, national labs, entrepreneurs, as
well as workforce within areas that are already collaborating
to deliver biotechnologies that meet commercial needs faster?
Mr. Lutnick. I would be happy to.
Senator Wicker. Good. Thank you very much. I look forward
to working with you.
Mr. Lutnick. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Schatz.
STATEMENT OF HON. BRIAN SCHATZ,
U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII
Senator Schatz. It is so weird hearing everyone is done
before their 5 minutes is up. Mr. Lutnick, thank you for taking
the time. Thank you for your willingness to serve and for your
family's willingness to support you in this endeavor.
I want to start with the census. The work of the Census
Bureau, as you know, is critical to the functioning of our
democracy. It is included in our Constitution. Both Article
One, Section Two and the Fourteenth Amendment require the
Federal Government to conduct an accurate census. The
Fourteenth Amendment specifically requires a count of the whole
number of persons in each state. So not a trick question, but
just to get you on the record, if confirmed, will you ensure
that the work of the Census Bureau is carried out in an
apolitical manner?
Mr. Lutnick. I will adhere to the Fourteenth Amendment of
the United States Constitution rigorously.
Senator Schatz. Thank you. And will you make sure that the
Bureau prepares to implement a census that counts every person?
Mr. Lutnick. Since the first sentence of the Fourteenth
Amendment that clause says we will count each whole person, I
promise you, we will count each whole person.
Senator Schatz. Thank you.
Mr. Lutnick. That is what the Constitution says, and we
will stick right to it rigorously.
Senator Schatz. Thank you. I know this has been a bit of a
love fest, so----
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, stick to it.
[Laughter.]
Senator Schatz. Well, depends how you answer, sir.
Mr. Lutnick. Fair enough.
Senator Schatz. Let me quote something from last year,
there was a sort of point of contention among people who care
deeply about NOAA, from Project 2025, and I will quote, ``NOAA
should be dismantled, and many of its functions eliminated,
sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control
of states and territories.'' Do you agree with that?
Mr. Lutnick. No.
Senator Schatz. Thank you. We are still having our love
fest.
Mr. Lutnick. Still the love fest.
Senator Schatz. On to fish. I want to talk to you. I want
to talk to you about the Hawaii longline fishery. We are one of
the largest food producers in the state. We are certainly the
largest exporter of any kind of agricultural product in the
state. In fact, if you are eating good ahi on the East Coast,
there is a very good chance it was on a FedEx plane overnight.
If you are eating bad ahi, I do not know where it comes from,
but not from us.
We also have an unusual management situation because of an
international Fisheries Commission. Western and Central Pacific
Fisheries Commission is also important to NOAA.
I want to quote the former Senator from Maryland who took a
very keen interest in NOAA, Barbara Mikulski. She used to say,
``Nothing about me, without me.'' And I think this probably
goes for the Gulf Coast states and the Mid-Atlantic and
everybody else who has a fisheries matter.
Do I have your assurance that before NOAA, National Marine
Fisheries, or anyone makes a move regarding our fishery in the
Pacific, that you will consult with our office and our
congressional delegation and the state of Hawaii?
Mr. Lutnick. I would be delighted to consult with your
office. I do not know about before they even make a move. There
is lots of people doing lots of things, but of things that
matter to you, I will happily commit to working with your
office. It sounds like it will make me better at my job, so I
would appreciate your input.
Senator Schatz. Thank you. You know, elections have
consequences. A bunch of EOs got posted over the last two
weeks, and a bunch of Biden EOs were repealed. That is what
happens when you have a new administration. But in particular,
President Trump rolled back the Biden EO on the AI Safety
Institute. I think there are a lot of people in industry and
elsewhere who, whatever, however anyone ended up voting,
however anyone ended up litigating AI policy under the previous
administration, there was a sense that this was one place that
we kind of agreed that there ought to be a Safety Institute. So
I am wondering what your thinking is, what do we do in place of
this, and how quickly can we get it done? Because that part of
this was like one of the very few things we were not arguing
about, as it relates to AI policy.
Mr. Lutnick. The Department of Commerce has the gold
standard in cybersecurity standards. So I think AI standards,
along the lines of that gold standard, that same model, I think
will be very effective. So I think if you think of it has
standards, I think we can get bipartisan agreement that we can
find the right way to set those standards in a way that makes
America--you know, it takes care of Senator Thune's comments of
a light enough touch, but we need to protect America, but we
also need to make sure that it is an America-driven AI model in
the world, that is important to us as Americans. So I think
standards would be a good way to think about it.
Senator Schatz. I want to dig further into this, and I will
submit this for the record, but that is fine, and I am not
attached necessarily to an institute. Sometimes institutes do
excellent work and sometimes they are ignored. I do think it is
unclear to me what we are doing instead of the AI Safety
Institute, and we have got to work on a bipartisan basis to
figure out what takes its place. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Fischer.
STATEMENT OF HON. DEB FISCHER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA
Senator Fischer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Lutnick,
it is very good to see you today. Thank you for your testimony.
I appreciate everyone who sits at that table and is willing to
serve this Nation.
If confirmed, you will lead a massive Federal agency across
13 bureaus. To start with, I want to highlight one that you
have already heard of, the NTIA. It has critical influence over
the U.S. economy and over our security, as well. Among its
roles, as I know that you know, and as you have heard today,
NTIA coordinates spectrum management, ensuring that Federal
airwaves are being used most effectively.
But as spectrum becomes more scarce, critical Federal
operations, especially those essential for our national
security, have been seen as obstacles. At the onset, I want to
make it clear to you that DoD air waves are not lying dormant,
and that proposals to clear them would jeopardize our national
security. We have constellations of DoD satellites that rely on
spectrum. Our nuclear command and control relies on spectrum.
Advanced fighter aircraft like F-35s rely on spectrum. We are
investing tens of billions of dollars in developing sixth-
generation aircraft that will rely on spectrum. We have radar
systems on our Navy ships tracking incoming missiles around the
world. These allowed us to help defend Israel from over 300
missile and drone attacks last year. They rely on spectrum.
I can go on and on, as my colleagues know, but this is all
to say that I hope that we can work together so that we can
come up with a really strong strategy for Federal spectrum
management in the future.
I am from Nebraska, and Nebraska's agricultural and
manufacturing industries rely on our strong export markets for
products. You and I talked about trade and about the need under
this Administration for trade to be front and center. We know
that we did not see much of that happen in the previous
administration. We also know, though, sir, that other countries
may try to retaliate against our agricultural and our
manufacturing industries. If confirmed, will you work with your
colleagues at other agencies to understand the impact of
retaliatory tariffs on agriculture and manufacturing?
Mr. Lutnick. I will.
Senator Fischer. Thank you. Can you also talk a little bit
about what opportunities you view that are out there so that we
can expand certain export markets over the next 4 years, under
this Administration?
Mr. Lutnick. I think our farmers, our ranchers, and our
fishermen are treated with disrespect.
Senator Fischer. Always the fish. Always the fish.
Mr. Lutnick. Always. You have to include them. How often do
we eat seafood? Come on. They are treated with disrespect
around the world; they are. Our farmers, our ranchers, and our
fishermen are treated with disrespect. The countries take
advantage of American kindness, American gratitude, that we
used to rebuild the world after the World Wars, and after the
Korean War and after the Vietnam War. We need that disrespect
to end.
I think tariffs are a way to create reciprocity, to be
treated fairly, to be treated appropriately, and I think it
will help our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen to
flourish. That is what I expect this Administration is going to
drive, and that is why I am honored to serve President Trump in
his pursuit of that reciprocity and that fairness, and the end
of the disrespect. These countries have reliance on the
American economy, and they need to start to respect us, and
respect us now.
Senator Fischer. Thank you. You heard about the BEAD
funding from Senator Thune, other members of this committee as
well, and I hope you will take that to heart and help our
states get through some of those regulations that are out
there. It has been an impediment to us.
I would like to talk a little bit here in the last few
seconds about technology and competitiveness. I think I have
Senator Wicker's time. In hearings, this committee has talked
about the United States' AI capabilities and that we are in a
dead heat with China.
This week, we heard about DeepSeek, and that, I think, it
is having us examine kind of where we are right now with that.
If confirmed, given the Commerce Department's breadth of
influence on that issue, how will you address different threats
that we see coming from the CCP within these information and
technology markets?
Mr. Lutnick. I take a very jaundiced view of China. I think
they only care about themselves and seek to harm us, and so we
need to protect ourselves. We need to drive our innovation, and
we need to stop helping them. Open platforms, Meta's open
platform, let DeepSeek rely on it. Nvidia's chips, which they
bought tons of, and they found their ways around it, drive
their DeepSeek model. It has got to end. If they are going to
compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to
compete with us.
I am going to be very strong on that. I am thrilled to
oversee BIS, and I am thrilled to coordinate and empower BIS
with tariffs that will improve the strength. When we say no,
the answer has got to be no.
Senator Fischer. I look forward to working with you, sir.
Thank you.
Mr. Lutnick. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Markey. No, I am sorry.
Senator Baldwin.
STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY BALDWIN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN
Senator Baldwin. Thank you, Chair, Ranking Member. Thank
you, Mr. Lutnick, for your willingness to serve.
I am going to ask at first, a sort of more general
question, and then I want to dig into some details that you
have heard a little bit about from my colleagues. But the
Department of Commerce does significant work to ensure that
U.S. companies are able to compete with China, and it also does
a lot of work to drive innovation in America. I want to ask
very broadly, how will you utilize the programs within the
Commerce Department, including those authorized by the
bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to promote American
innovation?
Mr. Lutnick. For example, we want to bring semiconductors
back to America. We want to look at the supply chain and bring
that back to America. We want to create those great jobs in
America, so that way we can go back to innovating, which is
where we began. Intel began the chips, and then the world sort
of leveraged our chips. TSMC leveraged us, and sort of took it
from us, and who drove them? Apple. Who is Apple? It is
America.
So we want to bring that innovation back and make sure our
great companies--and let's be clear, we have them all. There is
no other country that has the incredible technology companies,
pharma companies that we have. Let's bring those companies'
manufacturing and innovation and have them do that
manufacturing in America with American workers. Let's try that.
Senator Baldwin. Thank you. One of the key parts of the
bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, as you have heard from me
when we met privately, as well as from others, is the Tech Hub
Program. I will bet when you were having your one-on-one
meetings with others on this committee, you heard about their
tech hubs----
Mr. Lutnick. I did.
Senator Baldwin.--as you heard about ours. Wisconsin's
Biohealth Tech Hub positions the state as a global leader in
personalized medicine. It tailors health care treatment to a
patient's unique history and genetic code. Last week, I spoke
with many in the consortium that presented the Wisconsin
application, and their number one question was, can we count on
future funding? The first tranche of funding has indeed been
disbursed, but there are millions more that have been committed
to the tech hub over the next 5 years.
This week, the Administration announced a freeze on all
Federal financial assistance passed by Congress, including on a
bipartisan basis, as most bills out of this committee and out
of the Senate are. Mr. Lutnick, I am looking for a yes or no.
Should Wisconsin biotech hub be concerned that they may not
receive future tranches of funding that were pledged?
Mr. Lutnick. I think the best answer I can give you is I
have to look at it and understand it better. I cannot really
give you an answer as I sit here right now, because I do not
know the details. I try to answer everything as best I possibly
can, but if I do not know the details, the only thing I can say
is, I do not know the details.
Senator Baldwin. I think you will hear from a lot, on this
panel particularly, this is a key part of how we lead
innovation in the United States, and support for our bipartisan
work on this will be very important.
You and I spoke also about the impact a trade war will have
on Wisconsin's farmers and manufacturers. I know Senator
Fischer just asked you about this also. But I want to say that
their experience under the first Trump administration makes
them really nervous this time around.
According to the Department of Agriculture, America's
farmers lost $27 billion in export sales in 2018 and 2019, in
large part because of the China tariffs. A generous share of
Wisconsin's milk production ends up in dairy products exported
to places outside of the U.S., and proposed tariffs on Mexico,
Canada and China, three of the main export destinations for
U.S. dairy products, are likely to reduce dairy exports to a
degree that would harm farm milk prices and processor
profitability significantly.
I have been hearing from Wisconsin manufacturers who are
very concerned about supply chains and their own facilities
that are in other countries. So Wisconsinites are concerned the
prices are going to go up. What would you say to Wisconsin
farmers, Wisconsin manufacturers, who are concerned about their
exports, their supply chains, and retaliatory tariffs?
Mr. Lutnick. Our farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen
are the best in the world, and they are treated poorly. Canada,
as we spoke about, treats our dairy farmers horribly. That has
got to end. That has got to end. If Canada is going to rely on
America for its economic growth, how about you treat our
farmers, our ranchers, and our fishermen with respect.
So I think the President and our Trump administration is
going to improve the lives, and is focused on improving the
lives, of our producers, our farmers, our ranchers, and our
fishermen. These are vital. So I am going to work hard to make
sure, as an example, for your dairy farmers, they do much, much
better in Canada than they have ever done before, and that is a
key focus of this Administration.
Senator Baldwin. Can you commit to the American people that
prices will not go up?
Mr. Lutnick. I can commit that the economy of the United
States of America will be much, much better. A particular
product's price maybe go up, but all of them, yhis is not
inflationary. The two top countries with tariffs, India and
China, have the most tariffs and no inflation. It is just a
nonsense that tariffs cause inflation. It is nonsense.
Senator Baldwin. Thank you for your testimony.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Moran.
STATEMENT OF HON. JERRY MORAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM KANSAS
Senator Moran. Mr. Lutnick, thank you. The reason we are so
short in our questions is because you are so short in your
answers, and it is pleasing. That happens rarely. Thank you for
being direct.
I want to indicate to you that we will have an opportunity
to be well acquainted. I chair the Appropriations Subcommittee
that funds the Department of Commerce. And----
Mr. Lutnick. How are you, sir?
Senator Moran. All right. You have impressed me. That is
what I was looking for.
Mr. Lutnick. Yes to your first question.
Senator Moran. Oh, let me shuffle my questions. Let me tell
you something about the BEAD grant, and just highlight. You
have an opportunity to make this BEAD grant program work, as
you heard Senator Thune indicate and others. Let me also tell
you that the BEAD grant dollars are subject to taxes, so the
company that receives the grant to put broadband into rural and
underserved areas has to pay taxes on the money received. This
is not something you can directly do something about. But we
have legislation to eliminate the tax, and it seems to me that
if you want the BEAD grant program to work and actually get the
dollars to the people across the country, including Kansas, who
need broadband services, reducing the amount of money that is
available by taxing the grant makes no sense. Am I missing
something here?
Mr. Lutnick. What you just said sounds entirely sensible.
Senator Moran. That is not my first question.
Mr. Lutnick. Oh.
Senator Moran. That one was too easy. We are working to
solve that problem, but your input and support at a point in
time may be helpful to us.
A lot of talk about trade policy. I was going to ask you
about your vision for agriculture. I only would highlight,
again, Kansas is one of those states. This committee here is a
very rural committee, and the members who make up this
committee often come from rural parts of the country, but there
are significant challenges to farmers and ranchers.
Also, I would add to that list, we have a lot of small
manufacturers who make farm equipment, and the consequence of a
lousy farm economy has a consequence there, but so do tariffs
upon steel and metals, aluminum, the manufacturing process of
products that farmers buy.
In the first Trump administration, President Trump included
a robust 301 tariff exclusion process for American business.
How will you approach an exclusion process, that exclusion
process was a part of the Department of Commerce, and companies
could make an application for an exclusion from the tariff. Do
you have thoughts about that?
Mr. Lutnick. I think we, the President, signed an EO
directing Commerce and the USTR to study tariffs and do a
rigorous study, so I am going to let the experts drive that
study. But I am a more simple view of tariff sort of guy, and I
think the President is of like minds, which is that the steel
and aluminum had 560,000 applications for exclusions. It just
seems that is too many. I think we need to simplify it and make
it more effective.
Senator Moran. Let me ask a question about tourism, and
you, within the Department of Commerce, have a national travel
and tourism office. There is a creation of a large-scale
sporting event task force that we would encourage you to
implement. This arises because of major events that are soon to
occur in the United States, FIFA and the soccer tournaments
across the country, the U.S. Olympics coming to Los Angeles.
These are huge events that develop lots of economic activity in
the country and need attention of the Department of Commerce.
Does that make sense to you?
Mr. Lutnick. That is a really good idea.
Senator Moran. Thank you. Finally, Kansas, about 250
million years ago, was covered by an ocean. Therefore, I have a
fish question. The previous administration had proposed a rule
that sought to amend vessel speed regulations in an effort to
further protect the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. The
intent behind this rule, I suppose, is commendable, though the
industry was not consulted in its promulgation.
Can I have your commitment that as Secretary of the
Department, you will work with U.S. marine industry, including
boating, marine, and maritime technology providers? There is
science and technology that can help address this issue that is
being left behind, and I want to make sure that it is
considered in the effort to protect marine life while also
leveraging that technology availability.
Mr. Lutnick. Absolutely.
Senator Moran. Thank you, sir.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Markey.
STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD MARKEY,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lutnick,
welcome. On Monday night, President Trump's budget office
issued a memo that directed agencies to cutoff all Federal
spending, all Federal spending, outside of payments to
individuals. The Trump administration issued this order even
though this spending was authorized and appropriated by
Congress and intended to benefit the American people. A bargain
was struck here with the Article One, power of the purse. The
benefit is supposed to flow to the American people.
The freeze could affect semiconductor grants, broadband
grants, fisheries, disaster relief, habitat conservation, all
programs in the Department of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick, do you
believe that this action by President Trump was lawful?
Mr. Lutnick. I rely on the President. If his advisors say
it was, then I will rely on him and his advisors.
Senator Markey. Well, that is an unacceptable response,
because this action has caused mass confusion, disrupted
critical payments systems, and violated directly Federal
spending statutes passed out of this committee and the
Congress. So how can we be sure that if Congress passes an
appropriations law for the Department of Commerce that you are
going to feel fully obligated to execute that law and spend the
funding as it is written? Will you spend it as we wrote it?
Mr. Lutnick. It is my promise that I will try my best to
give this committee and the Congress the benefit of the bargain
that you have passed. You want broadband, if you want ships in
America, my job is to execute on that plan. This pause will
allow my time to be confirmed and us to study and attack it
rigorously. But I promise you, I will give you, as best as I
can, the benefit of the bargain that you have appropriated for.
That is my objective, absolutely.
Senator Markey. And that is exactly right. We do it, we do
the negotiation, and then Article Two of the Constitution is
the President, he is supposed to execute, you're supposed to
execute, you work for him. So if President Trump directed you
to unlawfully withhold Federal spending that was authorized by
Congress, would you comply with that order?
Mr. Lutnick. I guess I would be spending a lot of time with
lawyers but I do not think that is the way it would work.
Senator Markey. Well, it has already worked that way. We
know that the President has already unlawfully, in violation of
the statute, fired inspectors general. That was not in
compliance with the law. What happened two nights ago in the
freezing of all Federal funds, that is in violation of the law,
the benefit of the bargain.
So again my question to you is, given the unprecedented
times that we are in and the Commerce Committee going back to
being the first committee in Congress, we are wondering,
obviously, whether or not you are going to ensure that the law
that we pass, the funding that is going out to all of these
companies, all these individuals, there is a cloud over their
head, will you ensure that an unlawful act is not followed at
the Department of Commerce?
Mr. Lutnick. Well interestingly, the BEAD program has not
connected anyone yet and the CHIPS has not really distributed
much money, so the timing is not really impacted. We will work
hard, and I commit to you to work hard, to deliver to this
committee the benefit of the bargain. If you appropriate it,
you should expect from me to deliver efficiently and
effectively the outcomes that you anticipated, or better, and
that is my objective and that is my promise to you.
Senator Markey. And again, you understand that the
President has already violated the 30-day notice on inspectors
general that was supposed to be complied with. They are already
in violation of the Article One's Power of the Purse, and we
believe, obviously, quite clearly, this is just going to be a
pattern of conduct, and we need to know that the Cabinet
secretaries that we are voting on are going to comply with the
law, that is the bargain that was struck with the American
people, to make sure they get the funding, they get the
programs which are going to protect their families as well. So
I am not hearing a clear answer on that.
Mr. Lutnick. I will comply with the law. That is a clear
answer for sure.
Senator Markey. Right, but the law is not the President.
The law is what we have passed, Mr. Lutnick. That is the law.
And what is happening right now is the President is seeking to
arrogate all of that constitutional power into his hands, and
that is not the law. That is an abuse of the law. That is a
violation of constitutional separation of powers, and an
arrogation of power into one office. I understand the unitary
government theory that is out there, but it is not
constitutional. We do not have that as our system of government
in our Nation.
So we are going to be very, very attentive to how, in fact,
you will be conducting business at the Department of Commerce,
because the people deserve the benefit of the bargain that was
faithfully executed and constructed by this committee in terms
of the benefits that flow to the American people. Thank you,
Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Sullivan.
STATEMENT OF HON. DAN SULLIVAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Lutnick,
congratulations to you and your family. Thank you for that very
powerful opening statement, and I appreciated our meeting. I am
really enjoying this hearing, all the focus on fish. It is
great. And in all seriousness, certain secretaries, most
secretaries in my view, have not embraced their role that they
are really important to our fishing community. As you and I
talked about, this is really important to my state. Alaska is
the superpower of seafood. Over two-thirds of all seafood
harvested in America--commercial, subsistence, sport--is
harvested in Alaska's waters, over two-thirds. So we are it. We
are the 800-pound gorilla. We have tens of thousands of
Alaskans that are connected to this industry, and we are a huge
powerhouse in terms of American exports.
So Mr. Lutnick, the Vice President in his opening statement
called you a product guy, a sales guy, a good dude. That is a
quote from the Vice President, ``good dude.''
I want to also maybe give you the title of Godfather of
American Fisherman or the Patron Saint of American fishermen--
--
Mr. Lutnick. This is working for me. This is really working
for me.
Senator Sullivan. Keep a focus on these communities on
these great Americans just like at Deadliest Catch and things
like that, and to be a leader on focusing on them. That has not
always happened. As a matter of fact, it usually has not
happened with the Secretaries of Commerce. Can you commit to me
on doing that?
Mr. Lutnick. Well, I love to fish and I am happy to commit
to you. The fishermen in the United States of America are one
of our great assets, and it is easy for me to promise to take
care of them.
Senator Sullivan. Great, and since you love to fish, this
next question might be the easiest one you get all day. I need
a commitment from you to come to Alaska. You can bring the
family.
Mr. Lutnick. As long as I can bring my family, we are
coming.
Senator Sullivan. You can go fishing, but to meet these
great American fishermen who are my constituents, and it would
be great for you to get up there soon to meet them. Can I get
your commitment to do that, as well?
Mr. Lutnick. It is my pleasure.
Senator Sullivan. Great. Let me mention, we already talked
about it. The last 4 years have been tough on my state. This is
a chart I have shown all over the place, ``The Last Frontier
Lockup.'' we called it. Seventy executive orders and actions
from the Biden administration singularly focused on shutting
down Alaska--70. Fortunately this is now a thing of the past,
we want to get rid of that.
[Applause.]
Senator Sullivan. On day one, the President issued this
executive order, President Trump. It is called, ``Unleashing
Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential.'' And it is long and
it is very detailed, and the Secretary of Commerce is mentioned
in it. One of the lines in there, ``It is the policy of the
United States,'' this is from President Trump on day one, ``to
fully avail itself of Alaska's vast lands and resources for the
benefit of the Nation and the American citizens who call Alaska
home.''
You're mentioned in this, the Secretary of Commerce. Can I
get your commitment to work with me on implementing every
aspect effect of this really great Trump day one executive
order?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
Senator Sullivan. Great, thank you. You mentioned
disrespect for our fishermen. You and I talked about what we
have been enduring for the last 10 years. Russia instituted a
ban on any exports of American seafood in 2014, and yet we had
open borders essentially for them for the last 10 years, taken
market share. Literally the most disrespectful, unfair trading
situation I could see anywhere in the world. They were coming
after our market share. Our fishermen in America could not
export one fish to Russia. And then I worked really hard to get
that changed. We got a ban, and then the Russians started
sending their fish to China to essentially create a loophole,
then to come in to the U.S. We shut that down finally.
Can you work with me to make sure we do not have that
incredibly unfair Russia bans everything, and they can import
everything here? Ridiculous. Same with China. You are a sales
guy, a products guy. I want you to commit to me to promote
American freedom fish, Alaska freedom fish, and do not allow
communist fish from Russia and China coming into our markets,
can you commit----
Mr. Lutnick. We got to get rid of those communist fish.
Senator Sullivan. Yes, good. Can I get a commitment on
that?
Mr. Lutnick. I do.
Senator Sullivan. Excellent, no communist fish. Freedom
fish is what we want.
Finally, Mr. Lutnick, the Chairman is going to focus this
committee a lot on energy, which I think is great. I know you
care about unleashing our extraordinary energy potential. One
of the big areas of focus of the Trump day one EO, Unleashing
Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, is moving forward
and finally getting done this massive Alaska LNG project that
we have been working on for a number of years. We got all the
permits during the Trump administration. Of course, Biden
blocked those. This would create thousands of jobs, would
revitalize the American steel industry. Estimates are it would
reduce our trade deficit by about $10 billion a year.
Can you commit to work with me, the President, who is very
focused on that in his EO, the Secretaries of Interior and
Energy, and other Cabinet officials, including our Asian
allies, to make this project a reality, which will be great for
the country, great for our workers, great for our trade
deficit, and really boost America's national security?
Mr. Lutnick. I can.
Senator Sullivan. Thank you, thank you. Mr. Chairman thanks
very much.
The Chairman. Well, and as a Texan, I do want to clarify
for the record that red snapper are not communist fish, and as
a nod to my Alaskan friend, neither are pink salmon. Senator
Peters.
STATEMENT OF HON. GARY PETERS,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN
Senator Peters. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lutnick,
welcome. Congratulations on your nomination. I certainly
appreciated our kind of wide-ranging discussion we had in my
office recently.
I know that tariffs are certainly a powerful and a positive
tool that can be used, but they need to be used strategically,
they need to be used thoughtfully, and that is why I called for
100 percent tariffs on Chinese vehicles last year, and why I am
going to continue to fight for aggressive trade policy when it
comes to our relations with China.
As a Senator for Michigan, I am particularly focused on
manufacturing. We know how to make things in Michigan, and I do
not think you can be a great country if you do not actually
make things, and that is what we do in my state. And I want to
work with the Administration to make sure we are growing that
sector as well as creating good-paying jobs that result from
manufacturing.
However, I am concerned that President Trump's plan to
impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico before the rest of the
world--in fact it could be in a matter of days is what we are
hearing--could hurt our manufacturers who do considerable trade
back and forth, as we discussed in the office.
Michigan is the home of the two of the top three border
crossings in North America, we are two of them, and a lot of
that are auto parts that go back and forth. It is a highly
integrated industry, and our auto companies are very concerned
about what those tariffs might mean to cost, particularly to
the cost of vehicles. Already something we discussed, I am
concerned about the high cost of vehicles. Many families cannot
afford them now. And if tariffs are put in place that deal with
that seamless trade that goes on with Canada, that that in the
short run could definitely have an impact on prices and make
cars even more unaffordable. I do not think that is something
the American people want to see, and I am afraid it would hurt
consumers as well as also hurt those workers.
So my question for you, sir, is talk me through how those
tariffs would be implemented, what you are thinking will happen
there, and how it is going to have an impact on prices,
particularly in the short term? I know what you are going to go
on the long term, but all this stuff takes time, and especially
when it comes to manufacturing, it is not an industry that can
turn on a dime. It is much more complicated, as I know you
know.
Mr. Lutnick. So the big tariff view is going to be studied,
and the President launched that in an executive order where he
asked the Commerce Department and the USTR to study the tariff
model long-term. The short-term issue is illegal migration, and
worse even still, fentanyl coming into this country and killing
over 100,000 Americans. There is no war we could have that
would kill 100,000 Americans. The President is focused on
ending fentanyl coming into the country. You know that the labs
in Canada are run by Mexican cartels, so this tariff model is
simply to shut their borders, respect America. If we are your
biggest trading partner, show us the respect shut your border,
and end fentanyl coming into this country.
So it is not a tariff per se. It is an action of domestic
policy--shut your border and stop allowing fentanyl into our
country, killing our people. So this is a separate tariff to
create action from Mexico and action from Canada, and as far as
I know they are acting swiftly. And if they execute it, there
will be no tariff, and if they do not, then there will be. But
it is an action-oriented model. That is not the ordinary
tariff. The ordinary tariffs need to be studied and examined,
and that would start, as the EO said, in April.
Senator Peters. So that is a separate tariff?
Mr. Lutnick. Correct.
Senator Peters. After that study, what would be the
timeline of that?
Mr. Lutnick. I think that is sort of in April, those
studies will come out, in the end of March and April, and then
you will hear about those at that time. So big macro issues
with tariffs are being studied, but the micro issue is Canada
and Mexico and the precursors from China, they need to end, and
we need to protect our Americans from Fentanyl, and our trading
partners in Canada and Mexico, they should end it and stop
disrespecting us and allowing this to come through our borders.
Senator Peters. Well, I think we all agree, we want secure
borders, I am with you all the way. Being a northern border
state, Ranking Member on Homeland Security will want to do
that. My concern though is what is going to happen in the April
timeframe, as to what could that mean in terms of increased
costs to Americans if not properly implemented or properly
thought through. What sort of assurances can you give us that
we will not see that when that second set of tariffs get
implemented, or if they get implemented, but it sounds as if
that is your plan?
Mr. Lutnick. Well, we are we are going to study those, the
actions and the economy of America and how it works. But if you
think about it, we need to grow domestic manufacturing. As you
said, Michigan is one of the great places where we build
things, and the car manufacturing went to Canada, it went to
Mexico. It is important that that come back to Michigan, and
come back to Ohio, and come back to the great states of America
that can build. And so I think a thoughtful tariff policy that
drives domestic manufacturing I think is fundamental to the
American workers, especially to the workers in Michigan.
Senator Peters. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Blackburn.
STATEMENT OF HON. MARSHA BLACKBURN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE
Senator Blackburn. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome. We are
delighted that your friends and family are all here to support
you and we look forward to you serving the Nation well as our
Commerce Secretary.
You have heard a good bit about spectrum today and the
NTIA, the FCC, the work that they are doing there. I will just
highlight with you how critical getting that spectrum out. We
need a lot of that mid-band spectrum going to auction, and we
have auction authority that has lapsed. Chairman Cruz is
working to move us forward to reimplement that, and we would
like your support there, as we realize how important it is to
have connectivity all across the country.
And we want to do this without preference for whether it is
wireline, wireless, fixed wireless, satellite. The point is to
get people connected. So your attention on that issue will be
welcomed, and we thank you for that.
I do want to talk with you a little bit about China, and
this is something in Tennessee that many of our innovators and
manufacturers talk about. China is now the leader in 57
critical and emerging technologies when it comes to holding
trademarks and patents, and they were the leader in 3 in the
mid to early 2000s, 2010, and now they are leading in 57.
We are very concerned about this, Senator Welch and I have
worked on this issue of looking at these critical and emerging
technologies. And what we have found is one of the issues is
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is one of those
agencies that you will oversee. And many of the innovators in
Tennessee talked to me about the frustration that they have
with trying to get a patent pending, the amount of time it
takes.
I do not know if you have looked at the USPTO. The backlog
of applications there is 820,000. It takes 21 months to get a
patent pending, and as you know, some of our auto engineers,
some of our health care engineers that are working on
algorithms and new delivery systems, they do not have that long
to get that kind of assurance.
So will you work with us? We need to do a pilot project so
that we can push forward AI and quantum and some of these
patents that are requested in these areas if we are going to go
back to beating China in these.
Mr. Lutnick. The backlog is unacceptable, and my pursuit
will be the rigorous reduction of that to get it down. It used
to historically be 500,000, and I thought that was
unacceptable.
I am a patent holder, and I have used the Patent Office
over many years. It could be much more productive. But the
Chinese are abusing us. They do not give us protection in
China, and they come in and use our Patent Office against us.
This is going to end. We are going to study that, and we are
going to work on ending that and making sure our American
inventors get taken care of quickly and effectively.
Senator Blackburn. I will tell, you--thank you, because
when I saw you held over 400 patents, I thought, ``This is
someone that can help straighten out the USPTO,'' which needs
to be done.
The other thing I want to talk with you about is supply
chains. This comes under your purview at Commerce. Gary Peters
and I have done a good bit of work on auto manufacturing, as
Tennessee has become such a manufacturing center. And you are
going to be key in securing these supply chains for the
American auto manufacturing sector, and we want to make certain
that whether it is autos, whether it is appliances, and then
equipment for data centers and computers in facilities like xAI
that is going into Memphis in my state. The supply chain issues
have been noticed, they have been harmful, and they have been
expensive, and many times really a loss for our manufacturing
entities. And whether it is the raw materials or the components
that are needed for high-tech assembly, we need to make certain
that we straighten out the supply chain system so that we are
able to repatriate U.S. manufacturing.
Mr. Lutnick. Exactly, we need to bring manufacturing and
supply chain domestic so that that production is domestic and
flows through and employs great Americans to do so. I
completely agree.
Senator Blackburn. Thank you. I yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Duckworth.
STATEMENT OF HON. TAMMY DUCKWORTH,
U.S. SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS
Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lutnick,
welcome. Yesterday, President Trump paused disbursement of
Federal grants and loans including grants that have already
been obligated. Some of my colleagues have touched on this
already. These include grants from the Department of Commerce.
For the second week in a row, President Trump's actions are
sowing confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety.
When Congress directs Federal agencies how to spend
taxpayer funds, especially once those funds have been
obligated, that funding must be disbursed. That is Federal law.
This kind of chaos will make America less globally competitive,
not more. Other nations are watching and figuring out how to
give themselves an advantage while we are dealing with the
chaos of poorly executed EOs.
The Department of Commerce grants have real impact. For
example, the Economic Development Administration recently
awarded $51 million to the Illinois Fermentation and
Agriculture Biomanufacturing, IFAB, tech hub. We have already
discussed tech hubs and how important they are. They are
important across the country. This is cutting-edge work that is
going to keep America an innovator and global leader in
agricultural business and grow good-paying jobs across the
Midwest.
Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, will you commit to disbursing
all obligated grant funding from the Department of Commerce on
time and without delay?
Mr. Lutnick. If you add rigorously and making it as
efficient as possible, I can say yes.
Senator Duckworth. OK, thank you. If President Trump
directed you to do something illegal or unconstitutional would
you refuse to obey?
Mr. Lutnick. He will not.
Senator Duckworth. Would you refuse an unconstitutional or
illegal order from President Trump?
Mr. Lutnick. The Legal Department of the Department of
Commerce is excellent. I would go and get their advice and
guidance, but this will not happen. It just will not happen.
Senator Duckworth. So your answer is not going to----
Mr. Lutnick. That is a hypothetical. That will not happen
so I do not----
Senator Duckworth. He has given illegal orders before. He
asked the Department of Defense to shoot protesters in the leg.
Mr. Lutnick. Well, I do not know that. I do not know that.
Senator Duckworth. We can send you that information. All
right.
As we discussed when we met last month, good commercial
policy is critical for our national security. Supporting small
and medium-sized manufacturing, ensuring farmers have access to
international markets, developing strong relationships with
friendly partners, strengthening supply chains, and fortifying
export controls to keep critical materials out of the hands of
bad actors, this all helps keep our country safe and our
economy strong. I especially enjoyed our conversation about the
fact that our economy and at the Department of Commerce is also
incredibly important to America's national security on a global
scale, and I think we agreed on that and I enjoyed our
conversation on that.
Agriculture and manufacturing are critical for Illinois and
for the Nation as a whole. It is part of that national
strength. They not only generate good-paying jobs for
hardworking Americans but they also advance U.S. innovation in
a highly competitive global economy. You have touched on that
today, and I have enjoyed your remarks.
If confirmed how will you work to advance America's
agricultural and manufacturing industries both at home and
abroad?
Mr. Lutnick. I think our farmers, and our ranchers, and our
fishermen are treated with disrespect overseas. Europe, for
example, comes up with all these sort of policies that our
ranchers cannot sell steak. If you saw a European steer and an
American steer, it is laughable. The American steers are three
times the size. The steaks are so much more beautiful. But they
make up this nonsensical set of rules so that our ranchers
cannot sell there, our farmers cannot sell there. It is
nonsense. They do not like our fertilizer a little bit.
We need to change those rules. We need to end the
disrespect that our farmers, ranchers, and fishermen have to
suffer with, and that is one of the things that I am just
really excited about. I am going to help our farmers, ranchers,
and fishermen be successful around the world. We are the best,
our farmers are the best, it is clear, and they need to be able
to sell their wares around the world, and I need to help end
the disrespect that they get elsewhere.
Senator Duckworth. I agree with you that our farmers are a
national treasure and we should give them all the support they
need in order to be successful.
When done well, joint ventures with partner nations can
boost our economic growth, as well as enhance our national
security. If confirmed, what will you do to foster an
environment which concords joint ventures, especially with
partner nations, especially those with whom we have national
security agreements like Japan or Korea, that will enhance both
our economy and our security?
Mr. Lutnick. Our great allies have taken advantage of our
good nature, and they like steel in Japan and appliances in
Korea. I mean, they have just taken advantage of us. It is time
for them to partner with us and bring that production back
home. So I think we are going to work closely with our allies
to increase their manufacturing productivity at home, and I
think your way of thinking about it, saying let's work together
to do that and bring it home, I think is really important for
us and really important for our workforce.
Senator Duckworth. I am all for that. Thank you. I am over
time, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Young.
STATEMENT OF HON. TODD YOUNG,
U.S. SENATOR FROM INDIANA
Senator Young. Good to see you, Mr. Lutnick. I enjoyed our
visit in the office. And one of the things you demonstrated to
me during that roughly hour of visiting is that you really
understand that science and technology is going to play a very
important role going forward in our economic growth, in our
national security. You also demonstrated an understanding that
China has prioritized, through a number of recent initiatives,
boosting science and tech funding and progress in a number of
different technology fronts.
How do you envision, Mr. Lutnick, should you be confirmed,
increasing support and funding for basic research so that the
United States remains at the forefront of global innovation and
job creation?
Mr. Lutnick. We have the greatest university system in the
world, and we need to encourage that productivity from our
universities, from our great scientists. We need to enhance
their ability to get patents to protect them. We need to drive
that model of AI innovation and make sure the baseline
innovation is American. I mean, these things are vital for us
and we need to drive it. We need to have standards of
cybersecurity and standards for AI innovation that keep things
American. Exactly the way you think about it is vital for us to
do it here and to do it now.
Senator Young. And have you given any thought to the
leakage of our investments and the breakthroughs that are made,
the intellectual property leakage to adversary countries and
parties and how we might continue to be vigilant against that?
Mr. Lutnick. How could it be more clear than this week when
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI says they were able to create things
dirt cheap. How? By leveraging what they have taken from us,
stolen from us, or leveraged from us. It is outrageous, and it
needs to be addressed.
Senator Young. Indeed. Thank you. Mr. Lutnick, it is of
paramount importance that the United States continue to lead in
international collaboration and engagement on AI, which you
just alluded to, and I would say the voluntary standards that
has been done at NIST, and that needs to continue to be done in
some capacity, somewhere.
But if confirmed, NIST will be under your purview, and it
has been a vitally important non-regulatory agency, when it
comes to U.S. leadership on AI, and focusing on voluntary
standards rather than heavy-handed regulations. So what are
your thoughts on artificial intelligence and the role that the
Department of Commerce should play in supporting continued
innovation, and will you commit to continuing to support the
great standards work being done at NIST?
Mr. Lutnick. I am happy to support it. I think NIST has
some of the greatest scientists in the world, and they
understand AI technology, quantum technology. I mean, this is a
central hub of knowledge of the American government which I am
really excited to oversee.
I think standards is the right model. As I have said, the
way we have done cybersecurity which is the gold standard of
the world and everyone in the world follows our model, I think
we should try to have a light-touch model like that in AI. Set
those standards so the world heeds our standards, and goes with
our standards, would be very important for America and
something I am going to try to drive.
Senator Young. Yes, you can imagine a future in which,
through your leadership and those of others in the
administration, we are able to tease out our own standards,
harmonize those standards with other countries, non-China
countries, and then for those countries to produce products and
export them into the rest of the world, they would have to
abide by our standards of transparency, and openness, and
consumer protection, all the rest of it. So I think you are
headed down the right track there, and I hope we will have an
opportunity to work on that should you be confirmed.
Let me turn, sir, to digital trade. Despite the strength of
U.S. Digital Services, the previous administration abandoned
U.S. leadership on digital trade. They reversed decades of
bipartisan policy that promoted our digital exports. This
includes withdrawing support for key digital trade provisions
at the WTO, ignoring bipartisan congressional directives, and
leaving American companies vulnerable to discriminatory trade
barriers and digital protectionism abroad.
Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, will you commit to restoring
U.S. leadership in digital trade by advancing strong digital
trade rules and prioritizing support for U.S. digital exports?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
Senator Young. Fantastic. I am out of time, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Rosen.
STATEMENT OF HON. JACKY ROSEN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEVADA
Senator Rosen. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam
Chair. Mr. Lutnick, thank you for being here. A pleasure to
meet your family. I appreciated the conversation that we had
ahead of this hearing, and I look forward to your responses how
to carry out the Department's mission to support Americans
innovation. And however, with the Administrations
unconstitutional move to freeze Federal funding, including
critical investments in American innovation, like the Tech Hubs
Program, heard of that in Nevada, building out our rural
broadband infrastructure, really important again, in Nevada, I
am skeptical on the ability of this Administration to deliver
on that mission. And I also remain concerned that the policies
outlined by this Administration will raise prices on everyday
goods and have the potential to make housing and energy more
expensive.
But with that I am going to turn to a few really critically
important things to Nevada's economy that we touched on a bit.
One, of course, everybody knows about, well, of course,
Southern Nevada and Las Vegas, are travel and tourism, key to
Nevada's economy, top economic driver of every single state in
this Nation and so, backbone of Nevada's economy.
That is why several years ago, when I was Chair of the
Subcommittee on Tours and Trade and Export Promotion, I worked
across the aisle. We passed bipartisan legislation to create an
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Domestic Travel and
Tourism. Unfortunately we did not nominate anyone for the
position, even after I secured the funding for it in last
year's spending bill.
So again, as tourism, top economic driver everywhere,
really, really important. Urban and rural, every state in this
Nation has some place great and wonderful to go see. And while
we as Americans love to do that, as people around the world,
just quickly yes or no, will you quickly work with me to fill
this open position with a qualified nominee to be sure the
Department supports our travel and tourism economies across the
United States?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I want to move on quickly to
something else in Nevada, because Nevada, I do not know if you
have been there, we got a lot of sun. They have a lot of sun.
Mr. Lutnick. I have been there.
Senator Rosen. And one of my top priorities, we have a lot
of stars and a lot of sun, but some of the darkest skies, some
of the biggest stars on the strip, darkest skies in the center
of Nevada and a lot of sun up and down the state.
One of my top priorities has been to protect the solar
industry and the really great-paying jobs it creates in Nevada.
In fact, we have the most solar jobs per capita, more than any
other state in the Nation. And so like you, I want to keep
these good-paying jobs here in America. I want to reduce our
reliance on China, especially as it pertains to the solar
energy industry. We can talk more about solar manufacturing.
But with that in mind, will you work with me to ensure that
any new tariffs by the Administration do not hurt American
solar jobs by making components of the solar supply chain
prohibitively expensive, because I believe failure to do so
will hurt our many small business in Nevada, small and large,
not just in Nevada, but all across this country, as this is a
booming industry.
Mr. Lutnick. I will be glad to commit to study that.
Senator Rosen. Thank you. I am going to move on to
something I know everybody has been talking about is the
broadband BEAD funding. Earlier this month, NTIA approved
Nevada's BEAD application. It unlocked $416 million. It is
going to connect all Nevadans to affordable, reliable, high-
speed internet. We are in the top ten most largest states. We
are a deep frontier state. We are one of the most mountainous
states in the lower 48. We have significant challenges.
And even before the OMB guidance is issued earlier this
week and halted Federal funding, some in the Administration
have advocated for drastically altering this program, clawing
back funds already allocated to the states. Because of our
geography and geology, we are years into the process in Nevada,
as well as a few other states. We are on the edge of build out,
and before you answer these questions, may I remind you at the
outset that laws are not simply suggestions from Congress.
So, can you commit that Nevada will not have to restart
what has been a years' long process and will receive its full,
allocated amount that Congress has allocated to it, under the
BEAD program, given our plan has already been approved?
Mr. Lutnick. I can commit to you that if it has been
rigorously done and deeply efficient and it is the most
efficient use to get broadband to your constituents, then it is
easy for me to commit to it. But if there are errors and
mistakes, you would not mind if we made it better, you would
not mind.
Senator Rosen. The project has already been approved. We
are complying with all the requirements and the guidelines. We
are about to build out. Laws and allocations, appropriations
from Congress, they are not simply suggestions; it is the law.
Now, just asking like others, if you will allocate what has
already been complied with and what is ready to be built?
Mr. Lutnick. I will read through that. I can commit I will
read through the document, understand it with precision, and
make sure that the outcome that you appropriated for, which is
broadband to your citizens, I am totally committed to that, but
I want to make sure it is done efficiently and effectively.
Senator Rosen. That is not the question. The question was,
will you comply with the appropriators of the United States
Congress?
Mr. Lutnick. Again, I would say it just the same way again.
Rigorous review----
Senator Rosen. Do you think laws are suggestions, Mr.
Lutnick?
Mr. Lutnick. Absolutely not.
Senator Rosen. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Budd.
STATEMENT OF HON. TED BUDD,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA
Senator Budd. Mr. Lutnick, welcome, and welcome your family
as well. Thanks for your willingness to do this, to step away
from quite a role, and also your family as well, who supports
you.
I want to talk for a minute about something we have
mentioned several times and that is DeepSeek. In the release of
the Chinese AI model, which was allegedly trained on a batch of
export compliant older generation semiconductors for just a
fraction of the cost of our models, it shows that China,
however they got there, they might not be as far behind as we
assumed.
So if confirmed, how would you approach this issue and
ensure the United States wins the AI race against China? And I
will also say, as you enter this role, keep on your hat as an
entrepreneur and do not lose that. I am reflecting on Y
Combinator, Garry Tan who said as a result of this DeepSeek
disruption a few days ago, he said a thousand flowers will
bloom, and that is specifically as a result of DeepSeek. So how
do you see this as an opportunity, and how do we win here?
Mr. Lutnick. What this showed is that our export controls,
not backed by tariffs, are like a whack-a-mole model where they
get prevented over here and China figures out a way around it
over there. We have got to find a way to back our export
controls with tariff models, so that we tell China, you think
we are your most important trading partner? When we say no, the
answer is no. It is a respect thing. They have disrespected us.
They have figured out their ways around it. I do not believe
that DeepSeek was done all above board; that is nonsense, OK?
They stole things, they broke in, they have taken our IP. It is
got to end. And I am going to be rigorous in our pursuit of
restrictions, and enforcing those restrictions to keep us in
the lead, because we must stay in the lead.
Senator Budd. Thanks for that. Next question, I want to ask
you about the risk of our models being hosted on Chinese
servers for American users, and the risk of reverse engineering
models. The broader question really is about IP, so would you
dig in to a little bit about how you want to enforce
intellectual property, American intellectual property?
Mr. Lutnick. I think the Chinese use our Patent Office
against us. They use our laws. They have huge applications, and
those applications are growing like fire. They are trademarks.
You know, what they would do is they would say, Senator Budd,
and then they would say S Budd and S Budd S, you know what I
mean? They just go right around your trademark and abuse it. So
I think we need to stop that. We need to address it. We need to
stop it. We need to end it. And we need to have countries
understand, if you do not respect our companies' IP there, you
should not expect the same treatment here.
Reciprocity is a word that really is effective. We are
treated hardly. We want that to change, but you should expect
the same treatment here.
Senator Budd. Thank you. I want to ask this. With your
financial background, I hear DeepSeek's founding company, I
think it also owns a hedge fund. I am still getting information
on this. Do you think there is perhaps a financial play from
China because of the loss in market cap, or was it perhaps even
a short sell play on our markets?
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, I do not know.
Senator Budd. Is it worth looking at?
Mr. Lutnick. Of course.
Senator Budd. Thank you. Are you concerned that in the U.S.
we are focused, and perhaps even here in Congress, we are
focused on regulating our own AI activities at the expense of
China taking the lead and unlocking AGI or artificial general
intelligence before we do?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
Senator Budd. What do you think we need to do here, to
prevent us falling in that trap?
Mr. Lutnick. We were successful on the Internet and created
the greatest technology companies in the world because we had
an American touch of it, right? We did the Internet the
American way, and that is why the tech companies of the world
are ours, right? We need to do the same thing with AI. We need
to make sure that we set standards that the world meets, so
they are American standards that the world meets, and I think
that is the way we will keep our lead. Do it the American way,
which we know is the winning way, our allies know it is the
winning way, and we need to set those standards.
Senator Budd. Thank you. I do want to follow up on
something we talked about in my office, on a completely
different topic, and yes, it does involve fish. So, the
previous administration, they withdrew their NOAA Whale Strike
Reduction rule, which would have had disastrous consequences
for those in North Carolina, especially in the coastal
communities. So will you and your team and your office continue
working with the fishing and boating industry to develop
policies and procedures that protects marine life without
limiting access to North Carolina's, and our nation's coastal
waterways?
Mr. Lutnick. An easy commitment.
Senator Budd. Thank you. Mr. Chair.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Kim.
STATEMENT OF HON. ANDY KIM,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY
Senator Kim. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Lutnick, it is great
to see you and your family. I just want to start, you know, I
am representing the state of New Jersey, and I remember exactly
where I was when I saw the towers come down and as you were
talking, I just spent some time on this hearing, actually just
kind of counting through of the people we lost in New Jersey,
how many were from Cantor Fitzgerald and if I got my number
right, it was over 230 New Jerseyans that worked for Cantor
Fitzgerald, which is roughly about a third of the victims of
New Jersey.
So I just wanted to just express that with you. People in
New Jersey certainly remember that day, will never forget it,
and the work that you did and your colleagues did to try to
help the victim families, I appreciate that.
Mr. Lutnick. Thank you.
Senator Kim. You know, it is still very much in that sense
of national security. It was actually on that day that I
decided I was going to dedicate the rest of my life to national
security issues. And some of the things we have talked about
today actually, you know, the goal is toward that direction.
That is what brought the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act
together, was this sense that we are entering a new era of
national security concerns.
And so I guess, you know, I heard what you said about, you
know, CHIPS and Science being an excellent down payment, but I
guess I would like to just tease out and get a little bit more
of a sense from you, just what you believe our role is in the
U.S. Government when it comes to building up industries, trying
to be competitive. You know, are you someone that sees a role
for government investment directly, like we have in CHIPS and
Science, or are you somebody that still believes it needs to be
more hands off, more market driven in that kind of capacity?
Can you give me a little insights on how you approach this?
Mr. Lutnick. I think you gave the Department of Commerce
the tools to bring domestic semiconductor manufacturing home.
So I think it needed that jumpstart and you, in a bipartisan
way, created that jumpstart. and so I believe it was necessary
and important. And you are going to see this Department of
Commerce bring domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, and
then we are going to drive after that, the supply chain to the
United States of America, drive it here. We are too reliant on
Taiwan. We need to have, for national security, and for our
business, we need to have that production in America.
Senator Kim. I agree with that. I certainly want to see
that manufacturing back and you know, Senator Budd and others
were talking about DeepSeek, other types of concerns that we
face, beyond just when it comes to semiconductor manufacturing,
AI, and other types of technologies.
So I guess what I am trying to think through, being a
member of this committee and elsewhere is, you know, is there a
2.0? You know, is there a 2.0 that we can build upon with CHIPS
and Science, you know, have that kind of coalition and stay
together. Maybe not necessarily specific on chips anymore, but
on a different element of critical manufacturing or critical
technology innovations. Would that be something you would be
supportive of, you know, taking that kind of model of CHIPS and
Science and applying it in a different sector?
Mr. Lutnick. I do. I think my job is to give you the
benefit of the bargain. You passed CHIPS and Science. My job is
to bring domestic production of semiconductors home to America,
and then we are going to attack the supply chain, so we have
the full supply chain, so we can be independent from a national
security perspective. So if I need help, I will come and talk
to you about that, but first I need to execute what you have
given me, which is CHIPS and Science. Let's go get you the
benefit of the bargain. I am not the kind of person to come and
ask for more appropriations if we have not delivered the first
time.
Senator Kim. Well, I hope this is something we can work on
together, if you are confirmed, because I think it is
important. On top of that, I mean look, I will say you have a
job, not just selling things to the American people, but I hope
as you engage with the President, I am not positive where he
stands on CHIPS and Science, I will be honest with you. But
some of what I hear, that he calls it a bad deal, called it a
ridiculous program. I am hoping that you and others can try to
help engage there and see what it is we can do to try and move
this in a different direction.
Just one last thing before I conclude here, when you talked
about tariffs, you talked about across the board, country by
country, but I guess I want to ask you, especially when it
comes to country by country, is there a prioritization list?
You know, are you distinguishing between allies and
adversaries? Because as I started this question about China
being an overarching concern that all of us have, you know, why
aren't we prioritizing predominantly on China, especially when
we have to consider whether or not we are going to use
multilateral tools when it comes to terrorists, that will allow
us to magnify our own effectiveness going up against such a
large economy like China. Which, we are going to need our
allies and our partners there, but are we burning those bridges
if we are putting our tariffs targeting to our allies and our
partners at this stage. So I just wanted your thoughts on that.
Mr. Lutnick. I think Chinese tariffs should be the highest.
Our adversaries should be the highest. But the fact that we
Americans cannot sell an American car in Europe is just wrong,
and it needs to be fixed. So while they are our ally, they are
taking advantage of us, and they are disrespecting us, and I
would like to see that end.
Senator Kim. I have no problems with that sense of service,
but I do ask as we go through this that we keep in mind just
the tremendous threat that we are under right now, in terms of
our economic national security. And with that I will yield back
to the Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Schmitt.
STATEMENT OF HON. ERIC SCHMITT,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MISSOURI
Senator Schmitt. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Lutnick, it
is great to see you. It is great to see your beautiful wife and
your lovely family join you here today. Be very proud, and we
are very fortunate as a country to have you step up, and your
willingness to do this. Obviously your career has been laid out
and your work in building a company, you should be very, very
proud of and of course, after the events of 9/11, truly
admirable.
I also have seen your, this is, you have been very
successful. It is not lost on me, your willingness to serve in
this capacity, and I think it is a testament to how much you
love this country. As we have had these conversations, I think
that is your motivation here, which we appreciate. I know the
people back home do.
I do have to say something though. My Democrat friends on
the other side of the aisle have suddenly found religion on
following the law, like it is remarkable to me. The reason why
we have the freeze on grant applications right now is because
the Department of Commerce, outside of the law, interpreted it
to say that you need to hire enough ex-convicts to build a
CHIPS factory. The DEI required, that is why it is slowed down.
One of the reasons why we do not have broadband laid in this
country is because you require small contractors to have
climate action plans.
So spare me the outrage about suddenly now being concerned
about following the law. The Biden administration was lawless.
And through every agency, through every tentacle, through every
artery, they infused this DEI stuff, they infused this climate
activism stuff. And I agree with you, the Article I branch
reigned supreme. We never voted on any of that stuff. We never
voted on any of that stuff. So I look forward to you following
the law as you have indicated that you will.
I do want to touch on a couple of topics. Sorry, I was not
going to do that but I am just sitting here, listening to this.
Space. So I came into this chamber, in this body, two years
ago. I never would have imagined that I would have been the
Ranking Member of the Space and Science Committee, dealing with
these commercial space issues, which are fascinating.
America really is the innovator here, and you and I have
talked about this. This is a real race. I mean, we are talking
about AI, but this is a real race with China. They are serious
about this. They are playing meaningfully in space. We are the
leader right now. But if we did not have the competition we
have in the private sector, we would not be talking about going
to Mars in five years. And I know that we have talked about
this, but in this public forum, that falls under your purview,
how important it is to you. And also there is a small agency
within the Department that I think we probably need to give it
a little more prominence, that deals with these issues.
Mr. Lutnick. I think space and the data that we can collect
from space is fundamental to America. It is American
innovation, but they have got to be American companies, right?
It is vital that these are American companies, controlled by
America, part of our oversight, is vital. I think we have got
the lead. We have got to focus on it. We have got to encourage
it. And I think it would be a great national asset of ours
going forward.
Senator Schmitt. I think, many people have touched on AI,
and among armed services and commerce, you see kind of the
military application, the commercial application, and I think a
lot of people view it in separate buckets. But the truth is,
for the Chinese Communist Party, everything is dual use,
everything is dual use. And civilizations have come and gone
because they lose the technology race in a military
application. And I think that what we are talking about with
AI, the energy that is required to go do this and the
innovation, we are better innovators than them, they copy
pretty well. But what we cannot allow them to do is be better
innovators than us.
And I think that this DeepSeek has been mentioned. It is
possible that they used something called distillation, which is
they use what we do really well, they ask--they have an
algorithm that asks what we have--a million questions and
essentially copy what we have done, to gain the advantage that
they--it is possible. Like that is one explanation for what we
saw.
But my hope is that it is sort of a Sputnik moment for us,
that our focus is less about controlling this, which some of
the proposals we have seen in the last couple years are about
controlling or locking in incumbents. I do not think we need to
do that; that is the European model. But to really have real
innovation here and not be distracted with sort of the woke AI.
We saw this, you know, the Black George Washington stuff.
I mean we cannot be distracted with this. Like this is the
real deal. AI is the real race. And I know that you are very
focused on this and you have talked about this, so I do not
want to ask you the same question. But just as it relates to
locking in incumbents, making sure we have really robust
competition in space, can you talk a little bit about that with
the time that I have left, which is none.
Mr. Lutnick. We need to have the lead. We need to stay
focused on it. We need to get the nonsense off the chart and
just focus on raw, artificial intelligence, making us the
leader, and have the standards that we are the leader. It is
vital for us. And I think your points are very well made.
Senator Schmitt. Look forward to working with you, Mr.
Lutnick. Congrats.
The Chairman. Following up with Senator Schmitt, I do not
know if this is a Sputnik moment, but it is at minimum, a
Lutnick moment. Senator Blunt Rochester.
STATEMENT OF HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM DELAWARE
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you, Chair Cruz, and Ranking
Member Cantwell. I also want to thank you, Mr. Lutnick, for
taking the time to meet with me in my office last week and I
especially appreciated talking to you about the critical role
that this Department plays in unleashing and promoting economic
opportunity in our country and around the world. And as I
shared with you, securing our supply chains and making them
resilient is one of my top priorities, and I am proud to co-
lead bipartisan legislation with Ranking Member Cantwell and
Senator Blackburn. We introduced this week the Promoting
Resilient Supply Chains Act, Senate S. 257 earlier this week,
and I noted that in our conversation, you expressed a very high
level of confidence in the effectiveness of the President's
tariff agenda. But in what ways do you think imposing macro
tariffs will impact our supply chains?
Mr. Lutnick. I think it will bring--it will assist us in
bringing supply chains home. We need those supply chains here.
It is vital to our national interests for semiconductors. It is
vital for us for pharmaceuticals. We have allowed our
adversaries to take advantage of us, and even our allies to
take advantage of us. It is time for us to take care of
ourselves and I think tariffs will encourage companies to come
back and build in America, which is something I think our
workers need, and I think you and I agree.
Senator Blunt Rochester. This was one of the major things
that we focused on, as well, onshoring and nearshoring, when I
led this in the House. But we also talked about this Department
leading on mapping and monitoring threats to our supply chains
and making them more resilient. Can I hear a commitment from
you that you will, as the head of this Department should you
get it, lead and focus on mapping and monitoring those threats?
Mr. Lutnick. Easy to do. Yes.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Senator Moran asked about
exclusions, and you said that there were too many exclusions
the first time that the Administration imposed tariffs, and you
were just talking about drugs in particular. Are there
exceptions that you would make? You said that there were way
too many--like producing lifesaving drugs or drug components,
is this an area where you would make exceptions?
Mr. Lutnick. I think it needs to be studied. I think the
right answer is, the President launched in his EO, substantial
studies. Let's let those studies play out, and then I will come
back and gladly talk to you about it.
Senator Blunt Rochester. What we do know is that generic
drugs are increasingly being produced overseas, and as a
country we are facing drug shortages, active drugs, like 271 of
them. So do you think that tariffs will increase the cost of
drugs for Americans?
Mr. Lutnick. I think one of the problems we see in drugs is
that we are the innovator of drugs of the world. And all these
other countries just disrespect us and basically force our
companies to sell dirt cheap to them. I think if we address
that model, drug prices in America will come down.
Senator Blunt Rochester. One of my big concerns is the
impact of the cost on the American people. The Peterson
Institute for International Economics estimates that the
President's proposal could result in $2,600 annual loss for
middle class families. I am not going to ask you any more
questions about tariffs, but I want to put a pin in that
because that is really one of the main priorities for us, is
making sure that people are safe and well, but that they can
also afford to live.
I am glad you support NOAA, you said it in our meeting; you
also said it here. Just yes or no, will you maintain the
programs at the Economic Development Administration, EDA?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Yes or no, do you support
dismantling the Minority Business Development Agency?
Mr. Lutnick. I do not.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Do you believe that the MBDA
receives enough funding to carry out its mission successfully?
Mr. Lutnick. I think it is small, so it is hard for it to
be successful. It can be effective, but to be important to
America, it is small. So you have to put things in sort of
their size containment and it is a small agency, as you know.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you for sharing that, and
would love to work with you on that. As former Secretary of
Labor in Delaware, I think I shared with you, jobs are one of
the most important things to me. I said if I had another middle
name, it would be Lisa Blunt ``Jobs'' Rochester. It is that
important to me. And this Department plays a critical role. It
was mentioned that tech hubs are important to us in a
bipartisan way, so your commitment to continue that bipartisan
support for tech hubs, yes or no?
Mr. Lutnick. Seems sensible. Yes.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Seems sensible. And then also,
another example of this kind of innovation is NIIMBL, which is
a manufacturing USA institute based at the University of
Delaware, focused on biomedical, bio-pharmaceutical
manufacturing. Do you commit to supporting NIIMBL as it grows
our biopharmaceutical manufacturing strength?
Mr. Lutnick. I can commit to studying it. I do not know
enough about it to----
Senator Blunt Rochester. Maybe you could commit to coming
to Delaware and visiting.
Mr. Lutnick. I am happy to come to Delaware and visit.
Senator Blunt Rochester. Thank you and I yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you. And I want to thank Senator Curtis
and Senator Moreno. They very kindly agreed to let Senator
Sheehy skip the line because he has got to preside over the
Senate in 20 minutes. So Senator Sheehy. I think that was wise
discretion.
STATEMENT OF HON. TIM SHEEHY,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MONTANA
Senator Sheehy. Especially Columbian drug dealers. Thanks
for stepping away from your business empire in order to come do
this job. We need guys like you to get this country back on
track.
I do not like fish, so I am not going to talk about it. I
am a beef guy. But AI is getting tons of press, getting lots of
investment, that is great. But there are also industries we
need, that have made this country great, and we need them in
the future. How do we bring back industries, resource
industries like mining, timber? How do we get them back on
their feet, how do we attract capital in those industries, and
how do we make America a leader in those industries again?
Mr. Lutnick. We have chased those industries away with a
regulatory environment that makes no sense to me. Why would we
mine--we do not mine lithium in America. We want to have
electric cars. Granted we all want clean air and clean water.
But why do we mine, why do we have Australia mine lithium, with
coal, put it on a supertanker, which pollutes the heck out of
it, drive it all the way here, put it in trucks, and drive it
across the United States of America, instead of mining it in
the United States of America? It makes no sense at all. We need
to change the regulatory environment and unleash America for
the benefit of America.
Senator Sheehy. There used to be 36 timber mills in Montana
and now there are barely four and a half, and one is about to
go under.
Mr. Lutnick. Ridiculous. It is ridiculous.
Senator Sheehy. And there would not be any AI if we did not
have the components to build the chips and the processors we
need, and we should be getting those here, in this country. So
I think, you know, as probably the most powerful person
regarding our economy, I am glad to hear you are ready to
attack those issues.
The greatest national security advantage we have had is not
our military or our government or our Congress, it is our
economy. We won World War II because of the economy. Right now
we have a very consolidated and brittle defense industrial
complex. Russia makes artillery shells I think ten times faster
than we do for 8 percent the cost. China builds ships 30 times
faster. How can you, in your new role, not just bring back
manufacturing, but bring back defense manufacturing so we can
be the arsenal of democracy in the next great war?
Mr. Lutnick. The drive to do manufacturing and
competitively, in America. You know, the American military
industrial complex has been monopolies only to bring
competition out, to bring drone manufacturing here. These are
fundamentals that, what happens is I am just in the room and I
can push for it. It is a commerce view of things. Let's get
competition, let's get American ingenuity out there, let's get
new people producing national security. Let's just unleash
America for the benefit of America. I think we have been too
constrained for too long. That is over. It needs to be all
about American ingenuity, and I think if you unleash American
ingenuity, you know, the scale by which we will outrun,
outpace, outperform the rest of the world will be incredible.
Senator Sheehy. And finally, back to the fish that I do not
like. So NOAA, 70 plus percent of the Earth's surface is ocean.
The bottom of the ocean has untold deposits of minerals, oil
and gas, I mean resources that we have barely touched. I do not
know how much you have thought about it, but I would be
interested in just your thoughts on how you can leverage your
position in Commerce and of course NOAA itself to expand
undersea mining and resource extraction for the benefit of our
economy?
Mr. Lutnick. It is important for American national security
that the key rare-earth minerals, we create ourself.
Fortunately we have the greatest land in the world, and under
our seas is the rest of whatever we do not have on land. We
need to harvest it, we need to understand it, and we need to
take care of America. We can. And that by the end of the Trump
administration, we need to understand and take care of
ourselves. Protect ourselves and take care of ourselves. It is
vital.
Senator Sheehy. Great. You are going to do a great job.
Thank you.
Mr. Lutnick. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Lujan.
STATEMENT OF HON. BEN RAY LUJAN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO
Senator Lujan. Mr. Lutnick, thank you so much for being
with us today. Appreciated the conversation in our office as
well. I am going to start on the subject, that it sounds like
there has been a lot of conversation in the space. I apologize
for not being here for your entire hearing. I was over in the
Finance Committee hearing----
Mr. Lutnick. The key is you are supposed to invite me to
New Mexico, OK? This is the key.
Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. Now, Mr. Lutnick, yes or
no, do you believe that reaching truly universal access to
high-speed Internet across the country is an important and
possible goal to achieve?
Mr. Lutnick. Sounds like a great goal.
Senator Lujan. Yes or no, do you believe it is important
that high-speed Internet is available at every school in
America?
Mr. Lutnick. Sounds very important to do.
Senator Lujan. Do you believe that it can be done?
Mr. Lutnick. I do. We are the greatest country on Earth.
How can we not be able to do it?
Senator Lujan. Will you commit to investing infrastructure
to get it done?
Mr. Lutnick. With all the tools I have available to me, I
will do my best to try to get that done. That sounds like an
excellent set of goals.
Senator Lujan. If you are asked to cut that program by the
President of the United States, will you----
Mr. Lutnick. I work for him.
Senator Lujan. Is your response that, if the President
asked you to cut broadband infrastructure funding, that you
will do that? Is that what I just heard?
Mr. Lutnick. Again, I work for the President of the United
States, and I am here to execute his policies. I think he
agrees that broadband Internet to America is important.
Efficiently and effectively delivered, I think he, in my
conversations with him, he thinks that is important. Wasted
money and abuse of our resources has got to end, but I think we
can achieve your goals. And I think he agrees with me that he
will allow me to achieve the goals that you have just
suggested, which I agree with.
Senator Lujan. I do not disagree that there should be
efficiency and that we should stand up to fraud. My question to
you is, if President Trump asks you to cut infrastructure
funding, as passed by this Congress in a bipartisan way, to
build out Internet to every school, as we both agree was an
important issue, will you oppose that?
Mr. Lutnick. I work for the President.
Senator Lujan. Is that an answer saying yes, then you will
cut it if asked by the President of the United States? It is a
simple thing, sir. You have been in the boardroom a lot of
times, Mr. Lutnick. I am not going back and forth with you. We
have 5 minutes here, I will ask you in writing. We will keep
going. It is not about trying to evade this. It is just a
simple question. If you work for the President, and you are
saying he gives you an order, you are going to do it. Is that
the case, if you are told to cut the infrastructure money, as
passed by this Congress when it comes to broadband? Yes or no?
Mr. Lutnick. I will get with the lawyers of Commerce and I
will do it correctly. But I believe my objective is to give you
the benefit of the bargain. That is my objective. I have said
that before. That means you have appropriated it, and my
objective is to execute what has been appropriated. That is my
objective. If the President has other objectives, I will sit
down and talk with him about it. But my objectives, as I sit
here today, are to execute and give you the benefit of the
bargain, that which you have appropriated.
Senator Lujan. Mr. Lutnick, I will slow down. If the
President asks you to cut an infrastructure program, will you
cut the program?
Mr. Lutnick. I work for him. I will say it again and again
and again, I work for the President of the United States.
Senator Lujan. Mr. Lutnick, are you not going to answer
that question?
Mr. Lutnick. I am trying to answer the question.
Senator Lujan. Yes or no?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes, I work for the President of the United
States.
Senator Lujan. I appreciate you being cute with this, sir.
It is not cute.
Mr. Lutnick. I am not trying to be cute at all.
Senator Lujan. Mr. Chairman, if I may, respond. It is not
cute to the American people that do not have access to these
programs, while they are being promised that AI is going to get
tutoring to every student. Mr. Lutnick, it is not going to
happen if people do not have connectivity. Mr. Kennedy was in
the other room saying that every person in America is going to
get the access of some AI doctor to help cure the cancers that
they have got or whatever other critical illness they have. It
is not cute. This is serious business. We are talking about
carrying these programs out for the country. I understand you
are a very successful person. We are asking very simple
questions. And we had an incredible conversation in the office,
incredible conversation, a very respectful one. This is not
that. I just do not understand.
Mr. Lutnick. Actually, I do not understand where we
disagree.
Senator Lujan. I am not asking for a response, Mr. Lutnick.
I am not.
Mr. Lutnick. OK.
Senator Lujan. Mr. Chairman, one of the areas that we agree
is that we should work on a bipartisan basis to get these
things done. I have a reputation of being a bipartisan member
in this office of working with my colleagues. I have supported
several of these nominees. I came into this hearing with an
open mind. Maybe I am the only Democrat that is going to say no
right now. This is ridiculous. We have a responsibility to
communicate to each other for the people that we work for. It
is not just that you work for Donald Trump, sir. You work for
the American people if you get this position. You told me that
in my office. It is for the American people, to bring the
genius that you have brought to your success, to deliver the
grand bargain, to get things done. That is the conversation we
had. I am beside myself with this little exchange. I truly am.
I am just surprised.
Mr. Chairman, I have gone over my time. I yield back.
Disappointing.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Lujan. I would note, for
the record, having participated in dozens and dozens of
confirmation hearings, I do not recall a single Cabinet nominee
for Barack Obama testifying that he would defy an order for
Barack Obama. I do not recall a single Cabinet nominee for Joe
Biden testifying that he would defy a Cabinet order from
President Joe Biden. And it is unsurprising that President
Trump's Cabinet nominees are not interested in testifying that
they intend to defy orders from President Trump.
Senator Cantwell. [Inaudible.]
Senator Lujan. Mr. Chairman, I do not disagree with that.
But if the answer is no, then the answer is no. I apologize for
interrupting the Ranking Member.
Senator Cantwell. No, no, I think the Chairman is moving
on. I will wait to the second round to ask this, larger
illumination of this problem.
The Chairman. Senator Curtis.
STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN CURTIS,
U.S. SENATOR FROM UTAH
Senator Curtis. Well, that took a different turn. I was
just about to brag that they save their best for last here on
the Committee. And now we are down to three, and the Vice
President rarely speaks in innuendos, but I think if you go
back to his introduction when he pointed out this side of the
room was where he sat, he was trying to imply the best minds in
the Committee were over here on this side.
So, I am just going to touch on this previous question for
half a second. I do not want to spend a lot of time on it. But
you and I talked about this in my office, because the geography
in Utah. So, let me try to reframe a little bit what I think I
heard from you in the office. Is it fair to assume you would
like every student in America to have the resources they need
to be successful in school?
Mr. Lutnick. Of course.
Senator Curtis. Is it at all possible that Congress did not
get it perfectly right when we set standards for how we were
going to get to those students? And is it fair to say what you
are really after is the best way to get that to them,
regardless if Congress got it right or not?
Mr. Lutnick. Correct.
Senator Curtis. OK. All right. Let me move on for just a
minute. We talked about tech hubs, and I am sure all members
would feel this way, but they are not here to defend
themselves. We have the best tech hub in Utah, Silicon Slopes.
It is this crazy bed of innovation, of entrepreneurship, and
risk taking, and bright, sharp minds. And we have talked a
little bit about these tech hubs and the support that they
receive from the Federal Government, and I have heard you a
couple times say you agree that we need to figure out how to
support those from the government.
So I want to double down that that is important to Utah.
But I would tell you if they were here today, they would say,
``You know what's killing us? It is regulation and it is
taxation.'' Can you talk for just a minute about how we not
only support them with government problems, but we kind of stay
out the way and let them be successful?
Mr. Lutnick. I agree that it is a broad set of regulations
that are holding back America. We need to unleash American
ingenuity, get out of the way and let Americans be the most
extraordinary people, which they are. And so I completely agree
with you, that a lesser regulatory environment will unleash
America, and we will be much, much better off with less of a
hand on our head, holding us down, and more arms carrying us
up. I think that is fundamental and important, and I think you
are going to get that with the Trump administration.
Senator Curtis. Thank you. And on your state tours, please
put Utah on there. You and I will go to Silicon Slopes and have
this conversation.
Mr. Lutnick. That sounds fun to me.
Senator Curtis. I have got a whole lot more I want to
cover. I am just going to kind of go quickly. We talked a lot
about this Chinese model that has been developed for artificial
intelligence. And supposedly it has been done cheaper and
better than the United States. And color me skeptical----
Mr. Lutnick. Well, it is easy to be cheaper if you steal
it.
Senator Curtis. Right. And so my question is, how do we
finally get to accountability for this? Because I want a really
productive relationship with China, but as long as there is no
accountability, we cannot have that. How do you, in your role,
how do we get to accountability on this? And then, second, can
we acknowledge this is TikTok on steroids, right? If we are
worried about the influence of the CCP on America with TikTok,
this is on steroids. Can you just address both of those
quickly?
Mr. Lutnick. I think the first answer is reciprocity with
China. How you treat us is how you should expect to be treated
by us. I think we have let them off the hook for far too long.
They treat us horrifically in China, and yet we let them ride
roughshod over us here. That needs to end. I think the term
reciprocity, which sounds fair, would show that they are
treating us horribly. So, that is the first step, I think. A
good word for this Administration to repeat endlessly,
reciprocity. Treat others the way they treat us.
Senator Curtis. It was earlier mentioned the Artificial
Intelligence Safety Institute that is underneath you. And if
that needs a new life and new legs, I would love to work with
the Senate and yourself to give you the tools that you need to
do exactly that.
Finally, when you were in my office, we talked about
tariffs. And just want to double down on a couple points we
talked about that day. They are disproportionately hard on
small business. And we talked about perhaps longer runways for
small business and things like that. And I just want to see if
you have any thoughts that have matured on that. And how do we
do the goals the President have with tariffs, but also kind of
watch out for our small businesses?
Mr. Lutnick. Well, you laid that out when we talked in your
office. And I will make sure that that is a key part of our
studies, that we think about small businesses and the importers
of those small businesses and how best to find our way to be
acceptable to them in the model.
Senator Curtis. Good. And just for those that were not in
that meeting, part of the conversation was can we have a longer
runway for small business to meet those obligations, because it
is harder for them to pivot, and I look forward to your
discussions on that.
And finally, just on tariffs, before I run out of time, I
will just comment, and we will not have time for your response.
But this concept of they will make prices go up, but we have to
think about Americans. If we are demanding of our businesses,
that they meet emission regulations, and if we are demanding
that they meet OSHA regulations and human right regulations,
and we are not demanding it of somebody else, we either need to
stop demanding it here or demand it of them.
And with that, I am unfortunately out of time, and I need
to yield my time back.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Hickenlooper.
STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN HICKENLOOPER,
U.S. SENATOR FROM COLORADO
Senator Hickenlooper. Great. And I appreciate Senator
Curtis referring to the last three as being the best, saving
the best for last. Although, I bumped you out of that bottom
three.
[Laughter.]
Senator Hickenlooper. I apologize for that. Mr. Lutnick,
thank you for your time. Thanks for all that you have done. I
think some of the stories of how you responded to not just the
crisis of 9/11, but many crises in your life illuminates the
kind of person you are. And I respect that.
I have got a couple questions around Tether. I was here
earlier when you talked about allowing, when you get AI in
government, we can follow it pretty quickly. But we know that
Russia has used it to buy drone parts and to avoid sanctions,
that one of the main financiers for Iran had $100 million,
moving it around using Tether. It is used in a lot of scams on
Americans.
What is the best way, in your sense, I mean, if we are
going to try and limit and be efficient with government
regulation, how do we try to crack down on these illicit uses
of something like Tether? And what is your perspective? I am
not trying to say that you should be held accountable. I am
just trying to figure out how would you suggest, whether it is
Commerce or Congress, how do we approach that?
Mr. Lutnick. So we only know that illicit activity is done
on the blockchain because it is done on the blockchain,
meaning, when these same illicit characters use dollars or
euros, we do not know about it. You remember when we went into
Iraq, we found pallets of $100 bills. So the way to do it is to
require that anyone that who is a U.S.-backed stablecoin must
onboard U.S. law enforcement, and must allow U.S. law
enforcement and our AI tools into their models so that we can
go find and catch the illicit activity.
Because remember, it is a central book. That means it can
be found. It can be traced. Our AI tools will rip illicit
activity out of stablecoins within a year or two. Our
technology on their blockchain will end it, and that is what we
should require. Makes perfect sense.
Senator Hickenlooper. And so, you will collaborate, work
with us in terms of creating that kind of legislation and rule
in law?
Mr. Lutnick. Absolutely.
Senator Hickenlooper. Right. I think one of the arguments
also, and we do not have to go into this, but is to open a bank
account, people have to know who you are to sign up, and to
receive and trade Tether, there is really no easy way to know
who people are in that context. At the beginning. Eventually
you know.
Mr. Lutnick. Well, Tether only--the stablecoin issuers only
issue to KYC-approved people. But what happens is, it is like
dollars, I can withdraw it out of the bank, but when I buy
something, it goes on and on, and on, and on. So it is really
the secondary market that is, you know, people are just using
an electronic dollar in the same way they use a real dollar.
And it is much easier to catch an electronic dollar than it
ever would be to catch a physical dollar. Much better.
Senator Hickenlooper. Got it. Got it. I will not go through
the tech hubs thing because I know that Senator Curtis was
adamant that they had, perhaps, the best hub in the Mountain
West. I just want to point out that Elevate Quantum, which
includes several Rocky Mountain states, is a tech hub that we
want to make sure that you come out. Don't just visit Utah. It
is a lovely place. Skiing is not quite the same as Colorado's,
but we want to make sure you get you, when you are coming out
West, we want you to make multiple stops.
I have done a lot of work on critical minerals. Obviously
they are a fundamental building block for aerospace and clean
energy, semiconductors, AI, go down the list. And whether you
are talking about the extraction of minerals or the processing
of those minerals, we are falling way behind. And the
Department's International Trade Administration has a
responsibility for growing our exports, overseeing trade, and
really, I think, helping to secure supply chains, essential
supply chains for these critical minerals. How would you work
to ensure that we have sufficient sourcing and processing
capabilities in this country?
Mr. Lutnick. We have got to reduce the regulatory burdens
on your miners so that they can mine those critical materials
for America. We need to bring domestic mining back. We cannot
stop mining in America and buying it overseas. It is not
healthy for us from a national security perspective, and it is
not healthy for your domestic economy. So, I think we are
supposed to be mining in Colorado. It is an amazing place that
has got incredible resources, and we need to bring those
resources for the use of America and improve the economy of
Colorado, but also improve the national security of America.
Senator Hickenlooper. Great. And if I could just have 20
seconds. In terms of that critical--and I agree with you
completely, and it is also the environmental in other countries
when they are extracting and processing these minerals, their
environmental standards are a fraction of what we require in
this country.
Mr. Lutnick. Exactly.
Senator Hickenlooper. Are you in favor, do you see a
possibility for some sort of a tariff system like what Senator
Curtis was referring to, based on the environmental
depredations that come from processing and extracting minerals
in foreign countries that have those standards and what that
does to the atmosphere that we all utilize?
Mr. Lutnick. I think that is a key. It should be a part of
the study, for sure, is that someone else is mining with coal
and spewing it into the air. And we are worried about the fact
that we would do it 100 times better for the atmosphere. But
instead, we do not do it, we buy it from them. They spew it in
the air, and then they put it on a tanker and drive it to us
and pollute all the way across.
It seems, if you take it as a whole, illogical. We should
be doing it in Colorado. We should be mining in Nevada. We
should be mining--all right, we had a great lithium find in
Arkansas. We have the Iron Range. America is amazing, but we
are not using our assets to the best that we possibly can, and
it is time that we do.
Senator Hickenlooper. OK. So you would support some of
tariff to actually accelerate that process?
Mr. Lutnick. Sounds smart.
Senator Hickenlooper. Great, thank you. I yield the floor.
The Chairman. Thank you. And Senator Moreno has kindly
agreed to let Senator Lummis go ahead. So, Senator Lummis.
STATEMENT OF HON. CYNTHIA LUMMIS,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WYOMING
Senator Lummis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Mr.
Lutnick. First of all, I want to thank you for your generosity
to Haverford College. As you know, my daughter is a graduate of
Haverford College. You were the Chairman of the Board while she
was a student there, and your generosity to that school is
exceptional. I have never seen anything like it, and so I want
to start there.
I also want to ask this question in the form of a request,
and that is that you will not only advise the President of the
United States about ways we can improve our economic standing,
our jobs, our manufacturing, but you will inform this committee
and its members of ways that we can help make that happen.
Case in point, the semiconductor industry has estimated a
need for 115,000 additional workers by 2030 to meet the CHIPS
Act goals. But what is happening is there were mandates for DEI
within the CHIPS Act that is preventing the CHIPS Act from
functioning as it was designed.
There is a company called Taiwan Semiconductor
Manufacturing Company that is been trying to build
semiconductor manufacturing in Arizona. But the DEI
requirements, that are ongoing, that mandate the workforce that
they must have simply cannot be met. So they have faced
significant delays in staffing their facility due to a lack of
specialized workers in the U.S., particularly those from
underrepresented groups. In addition, the DEI requirements also
extend beyond workforce composition to include partnerships
with minority service institutions and diverse suppliers.
In other words, these companies that we want in this
country to change the trajectory of the development of
semiconductors, so we can do it in the United States, cannot do
it because of the additional requirements, the layers of
bureaucracy that we placed on them in the very CHIPS Act that
was designed to help our country move forward.
Some of these delays have caused that company, as one, to
go overseas. And they are finding, for example, that in Japan
they can break ground and complete a facility and begin
producing way before they can do it in the United States. The
Japanese government provided clear financial incentives without
attaching extensive social mandates. And they are also
exploring expansion in Germany and other countries that have
fewer regulatory hurdles.
So my request is this. It is not just DEI. It is
environmental requirements, it is labor requirements, and so
many myriad of well-intentioned hurdles that we have placed,
when we give with one hand incentives to create an industry in
the United States, to bring back manufacturing the United
States, and then the other hand takes it away. And I am asking
you to help us identify where we have created hurdles to our
own manufacturing advancement, our own ability to excel and
achieve in using AI, in using chip manufacturing, in using our
superior force of nature. You were called a force of nature.
You are a force of nature. I know you; you are a force of
nature. So many Americans are, and yet we throw these hurdles
up for ourselves. And I just want to ask you, please, help us
get out of our own way.
Mr. Lutnick. Easy for me to commit to.
Senator Lummis. Thank you. I look forward to supporting
your nomination. I yield back.
Mr. Lutnick. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Moreno.
STATEMENT OF HON. BERNIE MORENO,
U.S. SENATOR FROM OHIO
Senator Moreno. I am over here. There is no more over
there, nice. Thank you for being here. Question number one, do
you still want the job?
[Laughter.]
Mr. Lutnick. I do.
Senator Moreno. I can tell you do, actually. I think you
are in a position where you could literally do anything you
want in your life. I think if the 23-year-old Howard Lutnick
was sitting here today, I do not think he could have ever
imagined it.
Mr. Lutnick. Could not possibly.
Senator Moreno. And yet, you are choosing to serve this
country. And you are making a great sacrifice to do that. For
some of us, myself, I ran for office, I also divested of all my
holdings. Not quite as many as yours or as complex as yours, to
point that out. But to do that is a great sacrifice, and it
shows how much you really care about this country. So thank you
for that.
My question is this, in your career, give us a sense of
scale of how many deals you have made.
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, thousands.
Senator Moreno. And maybe a couple bad ones that you
learned from, right? You just do not do the bad ones twice.
Mr. Lutnick. Sadly true.
Senator Moreno. Right? As long as you do not repeat the
same mistake, it is all good, right? Imagine a scenario in
which you are a European car manufacturer, and you ship that
car into America, completely tariff free. It is a car that is
extremely expensive, targeted at very wealthy people, but it
happens to be an electric vehicle. I will give the example of a
Rolls-Royce Spectre. I am sure you have lots of friends that
have those. It is a fully electric Rolls-Royce vehicle. Could
you imagine that the U.S. Government subsidizes that car and
leases to the tune of $7,500? Is that a good deal?
Mr. Lutnick. Are you joking?
Senator Moreno. It is a true story.
Mr. Lutnick. OK, we have to end that. How about we end that
now. How about we end that as fast as we possibly can? How
about they should pay America an extra 7,500 bucks just for
being that rich. What do you think?
Senator Moreno. Well, all of our Democrat colleagues voted
for that bill. The Inflation Reduction Act allows luxury
European automobiles that aren't even remotely made in America
to get $7,500 if they are leased.
Now, imagine a Cadillac with a big, good old American V-8
engine gets tariffed on the way to Europe, let alone been given
a subsidy. You consider that to be a good example of terrible
reciprocity with our allies?
Mr. Lutnick. Right. That is the example of the failed
industrial policy of the United States of America. It is a
failed industrial policy that needs to be changed, and needs to
be changed now. That is an American-first, that is what America
First means, exactly what you are pointing out. Help us here
stop having anyone else treat us so poorly.
Senator Moreno. And obviously, the car industry is near and
dear to my heart. The only commitment I ask for you, of course,
you have to visit Ohio. You know, national champion football
team, right? Don't ask about our professional sports, please.
But I will have you come to Ohio and see the largest
semiconductor manufacturing facility going up in Columbus. I
think that this is a good example of what you will change in
the Commerce Department. Because to have a good strategy with
bad implementation is a terrible deal. And so I look forward to
having you there to help us get that plant implemented quicker
and more efficiently. So, would love to have you come to Ohio.
Mr. Lutnick. Ohio is great, has a great history of
manufacturing. And we have got to bring that manufacturing back
to Ohio and to United States of America. It has to come back,
and I am committed to that.
Senator Moreno. And one last line of questioning. There
have been a lot of comments about tariffs raising prices and
causing inflation. Before doing this, you obviously were deep
into the financial markets. So during the period of time of
2017 through the end of President Trump's term, how would you
describe inflation?
Mr. Lutnick. It was virtually none.
Senator Moreno. So, virtually none, historically low. And
from the moment Joe Biden came in office and started fiscal
stimulus unlike anything I have ever seen in my lifetime, how
would you describe inflation?
Mr. Lutnick. Massively high.
Senator Moreno. Now, those were not done unilaterally by
Joe Biden, right? Those bills were not just magically created
by Joe Biden? They originated here in Congress?
Mr. Lutnick. They did.
Senator Moreno. So maybe I would ask that my Democrat
colleagues sit this one out when they are talking about what is
going to happen with inflation over the next four years. And
with that, I will yield my time back.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Moreno. And I will say, I
appreciate Senator Moreno's very kind offer to provide those
Rolls-Royces to all the members of this committee. And we will
happily go to Ohio to pick them up.
All right, we are going to do another round. I think there
are just a couple of us that are going to have some more
questions, and so hopefully you will be out of here very soon.
But let me start with this. In August of last year, I wrote
to NOAA asking for information about its promotion of faux
educational materials designed to fuel climate alarmism and
manufacture support for left-wing goals. For instance, NOAA
pushed a, quote, ``Climate Emotions Wheel,'' activity based on
the work of a Finnish ecotheologian, whatever the hell that is,
which encouraged students to, quote, ``navigate their emotions
before and after engaging in climate action.''
As the curriculum funded by NOAA openly states, quote,
``The goal is not to eliminate negative emotions because,''
quote, ``those who experience negative emotions about climate
change are more likely to engage in climate action.'' Seems
that one goal of the NOAA curriculum is to generate feelings of
fear and anxiety rather than to educate.
I asked for the documents behind this, and NOAA refused to
provide them. Mr. Lutnick, if you are confirmed, will you
commit to providing the documents that I requested from NOAA?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
The Chairman. Thank you. All right, let's turn to
artificial intelligence. NIST is the non-regulatory Federal
agency and the lead national laboratory for providing the
measurements and standards that underpin U.S. commerce. Success
in the increasingly fierce competition for global leadership in
critical emerging technology like AI relies in part on how well
each country's respective firms and experts influence the
development of technical standards.
Unfortunately, under the Biden Administration, NIST's
mission was undermined by the creation of the AI Safety
Institute, which politicized AI standards. The AI Safety
Institute took the worst lessons from the EU tech regulation,
like requiring climate change assessments and, quote,
``misinformation as part of,'' quote, ``measuring AI and its
risks.''
When you are confirmed, will you return NIST's focus to the
scientific mission of measurement science and ensure that
NIST's AI standard guidance is based on scientific technical
standards and not simply a Trojan horse for social policy or
importing the EU's tech agenda?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
The Chairman. All right, let's turn to BEAD. You have had a
lot of questions about BEAD. After nearly 4 years, the Biden
administration did not connect a single American through the
$42 billion BEAD program. Instead, it hoarded nearly $1 billion
in administrative funding to impose unnecessary burdens on
states and to push extreme left-wing social policies, like
climate change and rate regulation, and fund otter ponds at the
D.C. Zoo. Again, otter ponds is what their broadband funding
went to.
When I flagged these failures over a year ago, the
Department ignored solutions to expedite access and to end
BEAD's extreme bias against wireless and satellite technology.
This red tape has not only stalled the development of the
program, it has inflated the cost of expanding Internet access.
Will you commit to working with my office to conduct a
thorough review of this program and to refocus it on Congress'
core objective of deploying high-speed Internet to unserved
area in a tech-neutral matter and not to pursuing extraneous or
partisan social goals?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes, I would be happy to.
The Chairman. And finally, Congress created the Tech Hubs
Program under the CHIPS and Sciences Act, the target areas that
will advance technological innovation that allow us to compete
globally. Unsurprisingly, under the Biden administration, the
Tech Hubs Program became just another piggy bank for low-
performing blue states.
For instance, the first round of funding went toward,
quote, ``sustainable climate-ready infrastructure'' and, quote,
``clean energy supply chain Tech Hubs.'' Six days before
leaving office, the Biden administration pulled out an
industrial-sized shovel and was shoveling as much money out the
door as they could, including announcing nearly $210 million in
additional awards, six days before they left.
Once again, Texas received zero, nada, even though it has a
designated semiconductor hub and a booming tech industry. Will
you commit to reviewing the Tech Hubs Program and restoring
competitive, merit-based review processes across the Department
rather than political cronyism?
Mr. Lutnick. Yes.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Cantwell. Senator
Klobuchar.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Thank you, Senator Cantwell. While we were sitting here,
actually, it appears that Mr. Vaeth, the unknown bureaucrat to
me in the Office of Management and Budget, has withdrawn the
memo, the two-page memo for the freeze. So that will hopefully
open up the ability for you, if you are confirmed, to
distribute this funding.
I do want to just follow up in a different way on the
questions that Senator Lujan was asking. If a court finds that
the President or someone does something illegal, will you
respect that court's order?
Mr. Lutnick. Of course.
Senator Klobuchar. OK, thank you. So when we were in
office, I had deferred to Senator Cantwell on some of the
conflicts issues, and I appreciated some of them that she
raised. But since that time, I am particularly interested in
Scandinavia because of my state. We have a lot of connections
there and going way back to Walter Mondale and we have had
Ambassadors to Scandinavia, and I have actually personally been
to Greenland. So maybe more than some of the other Senators, I
have been very much interested for a number of years in former
and now current President Trump's focus on Greenland. And I
know that Cantor Fitzgerald had an interest, major interest,
would that be a fair way to say it----
Mr. Lutnick. No.
Senator Klobuchar. No?
Mr. Lutnick. No.
Senator Klobuchar. I am just reading this in The New York
Times so maybe they are wrong.
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, sorry.
Senator Klobuchar. I know you have divested. OK, I start
with that. But so explain to me the Cantor Fitzgerald-Greenland
connection?
Mr. Lutnick. I think Cantor Fitzgerald took a mining
company public and in lieu of its fees, it took some shares.
But minor, teeny from the view of Cantor Fitzgerald writ large
would be the way to think about it. I think I was informed
that. Meanwhile, I did not know we had it until yesterday, by
the way, I did not know, but I was informed that it was just in
lieu of fees, they took some shares.
Senator Klobuchar. And now you have divested yourself, but
your family has an interest in it, which I assume is okay under
the ethic laws, not in the assets. What is that transfer?
Mr. Lutnick. The right answer is I plan to divest upon my
confirmation and I will have sold everything and I will have no
business assets and no business interest and I will have no
conflict as agreed with the Office of Government Ethics.
Senator Klobuchar. OK. But one thing, so that is that
scene. But then we have the fact that the President has been
pressuring Denmark to sell Greenland to the U.S. That is
correct, right?
Mr. Lutnick. I think he has had such conversations. I think
that is right.
Senator Klobuchar. And the Prime Minister, I just see them
as such a key ally, the Scandinavian countries, for many
reasons. But the Prime Minister said, ``No, Greenland's not for
sale.'' Right?
Mr. Lutnick. I did not speak to the Prime Minister.
Senator Klobuchar. OK. And have you discussed mining in
Greenland with the President?
Mr. Lutnick. Absolutely not.
Senator Klobuchar. OK. And would you see that the interest
for whatever interest Cantor Fitzgerald has in mining or other
companies have that if America bought Greenland or somehow
obtained Greenland, that that would be more favorable to those
terms of the mining?
Mr. Lutnick. I doubt it, but I would not have the foggiest
idea. It would be irrelevant. It has to be irrelevant.
Senator Klobuchar. OK. I think it is relevant when you have
a President----
Mr. Lutnick. No, no, no.
Senator Klobuchar.--trying to expand into another country
like of our allies and trying to pressure them.
Mr. Lutnick. That is not what I said.
Senator Klobuchar. I think it is relevant to our commerce,
to our national security and the likes.
Mr. Lutnick. Well, I am sorry. That is not what I meant. I
meant the economics of it are irrelevant to Cantor. I was not
talking at all about this. Sorry, I did not mean that even the
slightest.
Senator Klobuchar. OK, I will follow up on some of this in
writing. Just the last two questions. Senator Moran raised
travel and tourism. He and I lead that caucus together. And
Senator Blunt and I worked to create this Brand USA, which
allows our American companies--it is paid for not by government
money. It is paid for by private money, leveraged, hotels and
the like, leveraged with visa fees that foreign visitors pay
when they come, and we have used that to promote our Nation as
a whole for tourism. We have seen some really positive results
because before that maybe Vegas or New York City would do it,
but not the rest of the country. And I just hope that you will
work to strengthen programs like Brand USA and other tourism
work that we do, as Jerry mentioned, Senator Moran mentioned
with the Olympics coming and the like.
Mr. Lutnick. I will.
Senator Klobuchar. OK, thank you. Last thing, human
trafficking. This is a big priority of mine and several people
on this committee. Under the last administration, the
Department of Commerce collaborated with other Federal
agencies, community partners, advocates, and individuals to
raise awareness. If confirmed, what will you do to fight human
trafficking in our supply chains and economy?
Mr. Lutnick. Everything I possibly can.
Senator Klobuchar. OK, thank you. One last thing. National
Weather Service, part of NOAA. Will you work to maintain the
National Weather Service? Very key in my state.
Mr. Lutnick. I will. I think we can deliver the product
more efficiently and less expensively, dramatically less
expensively, but the outcome of delivering those services
should not be changed.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are going
fast now because I think we have a vote. Mr. Lutnick, I just
want to clarify a couple of things that have come through the
dais here as members have asked questions, and as Senator
Klobuchar just said, the OMB memo that has raised such hackles
and is confronting you and many of the other nominees has now
been withdrawn. So that is good news.
But in these conversations, one thing you said, and this is
making a point, it is not about specificity, because I am not
sure--when you are in these situations, you never know what the
heck you say in the context, you said you wanted to bring drone
manufacturing back to the United States. Now, in this
particular case, the State of Washington has had a lot of
startups in the drone area and they have grown into bigger
companies and they have been acquired by Boeing. So it is a
really great example of exactly what we are trying to do. It is
a really great example of your quote, ``unleash American
ingenuity,'' which I wholeheartedly agree with.
So when you come to this probably lesser known aspect or
lesser understood aspect of CHIPS and Science, really, it
started as the third bill that this committee has passed over
decades under the auspices of a moniker, ``America competes.''
And so the concept is, what do we need to do? And as a
technology age and an R&D age where universities were
publishing and everybody was reading our publishings, we were
not patenting enough and we were not translating science fast
enough for America's competitiveness.
And so the other aspect of CHIPS and Science is the tech
hubs, as my colleagues have brought up, several people have
brought these up. And so we just want to get clarity on your
opinion about that kind of activity. Forget for a second the
individual ones. I can make a very big case for why, in
aerospace, one of our largest exports, if we do not climb the
next hill on material science and win that race, it is going to
be very bad for the United States. So you do want to test bed
large-scale R&D that does not get done by the private sector
because it cannot. It just cannot. It cannot scale at that
level.
So when you talked about the efforts of semiconductors, you
said, ``Yes, I support getting the money out the door.'' And so
now on the tech hubs, we are trying to understand, do you
believe in this translational science effort that is about
trying to--in fact, I will never forget Raimondo coming to
Seattle and they said, ``Tell us where you are going and we
will follow.'' And we looked at each other, like what are they
talking about? Tell us where you are going. And the people in
Seattle said it is too expensive to do all the innovation that
we need to do in America, in Seattle, in Silicon Valley, and
other places. So the point is, we got to spread it out. We have
to go get places to do this kind of work.
So I just want to understand, do you believe in that? Do
you believe in us funding that kind of R&D test bed scaling of
important manufacturing competitiveness issues?
Mr. Lutnick. I think American ingenuity exists strongly
across the country, and we should find it and we should harness
it and we should unleash it. And that means working in each
state and really trying to find the best and the brightest. And
I think if the tech hubs can bring that out and they can come
together and show the government, the Federal Government, that
they can do it, then I think it is very worthwhile.
Senator Cantwell. So you will be an advocate for those
things and you will not try to withhold the funds that have
already been allocated?
Mr. Lutnick. I would not.
Senator Cantwell. OK. My colleague asked about the AI
Safety Institute. Will you work with myself and Senator Young
and Senator Cruz on an AI Safety Institute that we can get over
the goal line that people feel good about?
Mr. Lutnick. I think we talked about AI standards, which
are fundamental, and I would be delighted to work with your
office to try to come up with a model and method for the
foundation of American AI standards that drive it out. And that
is why I think it is standards, not safety. They may end up
with the exact same concept, but I am a proponent of standards.
Senator Cantwell. Well, you will have a big standards job
in the fact that you have NIST. The notion here is that you are
trying to get commonality. I certainly agree with Senator Cruz.
America should not be pegging its horse to what happens in
Europe. In fact, I think a better approach is for us to have
our--that is why I want a privacy law. I do not want to create
a bureaucracy. I want a strong bright line on the books.
So in this case, what we need for the industry to grow is
for NIST and Commerce to do its job. And so I am glad that you
will work with all of us to do that because that is critically
important.
OK. The hearing was a few minutes old and a headline popped
up. ``Lutnick Eager to Tap Pentagon Spectrum for Commercial
Use.'' Is that good with you, or do you want to refine that? Do
you want to refine that?
Mr. Lutnick. Was I here?
Senator Cantwell. Yes.
Mr. Lutnick. That is what I said?
Senator Cantwell. Yes, apparently. Yep.
Mr. Lutnick. OK.
Senator Cantwell. So is that accurate? Is that accurate? I
guess let's just say that. Is that accurate?
Mr. Lutnick. I think what would be the best way to say it
would be working closely with the Department of Defense to make
sure we protect our national security. If we can find spectrum
that we can use to enhance the United States of America,
generational spectrum is important. Let's work together. Let's
unleash the spectrum if we can. We have got to protect the
defense industry, but we cannot just sleep through it. We have
got to make sure we use that spectrum to the best it can be for
America.
Senator Cantwell. And I think what happened is that the
Department, NTIA, under the Secretary of Commerce, led a big
DoD discussion and tried to get people commonality around
dynamic spectrum sharing. And I think it holds a lot of
promise. But yes, we all have to cooperate. And then I think
there are some who just say, just turn it all over. And I think
our colleagues are split on this.
And so I want a resolution. I did not coin this, but
collaboration is the next phase of innovation. OK. It is a TED
Talk done by somebody that I respected. And the point is, not
this Ted, another TED, but you could give your own TED Talk--
the TED Talk, and this is years ago, this is years ago, in an
information age, you have a lot of information, but if you do
not get around a table and agree, you cannot get it
implemented.
And so that is where the United States needs to go. We need
to collaborate on what we agree should move forward on the
innovation. So I hope that on this point where so much is at
stake with 5G and 6G in deployment, look, manufacturing is
growing in my state, and I am telling you, CHIPS and Science is
part of it. And we did not get billions like some other states.
But manufacturing. Why? Because AI is meeting manufacturing
and, in my state, cheap electricity. So we want this
renaissance of manufacturing in the United States of America. I
disagree with my colleague from Ohio because we worked on this,
and I can tell you that, that investment is what is helping us.
CHIPS and Science is what is helping us grow the manufacturing
base.
So anyway, I hope that you will work with us to create that
level of collaboration around facts and information so that we
can keep moving forward on this.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you. Senator Markey.
Senator Markey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to come
back to broadband. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,
Congress invested $40 billion to ensure all Americans benefit
from the digital revolution. And the vast majority of that
money will go toward ensuring that all Americans, inner-city
and rural, have access to high-speed broadband. But will you
faithfully execute the dispensing of that $40 billion, Mr.
Lutnick?
Mr. Lutnick. I have said the goals are right. I will try to
get you the benefit of the bargain. Yes, I will do it as
efficiently and as effectively as we can.
Senator Markey. I appreciate it. And I am going to repeat
again, the bargain was one between Democrats and Republicans on
this committee. Republicans largely wanted it to go to rural
America. We largely wanted it to go to urban America. That is a
bargain. It is not separable. It is a law.
Mr. Lutnick. Oh, I agree.
Senator Markey. OK.
Mr. Lutnick. I said yes, I am just going to try to do it
efficiently and effectively.
Senator Markey. We just need it to be faithfully executed,
given the OMB designee saying that he wants to protect against
Marxism in our country in the budget. And I know he is dead
serious and we are dead serious about our bargains as well. But
that $40 billion is important to ensure access for everyone.
But such access has limited value if Americans do not have the
skills or the knowledge to participate in that online world. So
fortunately, Congress thought ahead and also provided $3
billion across three programs for precisely that type of
education for all Americans to take advantage of broadband.
Will you faithfully execute and implement those programs,
Mr. Lutnick?
Mr. Lutnick. What you have appropriated efficiently and
effectively, I will.
Senator Markey. Yes, it is the bargain. It is the bargain
between the haves and those who want to get a piece of the
action too. But you got to educate. That is your job to execute
that.
On the CHIPS Act, over the past several years, the Commerce
Department has worked quickly to issue grants under this
program. Mr. Lutnick, will you commit to honor the CHIPS grant
contracts that have been finalized?
Mr. Lutnick. I would have to read them and analyze them and
understand them to commit to that.
Senator Markey. Well, they are finalized, the bargain was
here, us providing the money, and then the bargain was the
contract that got signed.
Mr. Lutnick. Well, how do you know the contract that was
signed was the bargain? I do not know that. So I cannot--I just
cannot testify to it.
Senator Markey. I am only talking about the contracts that
have been finalized. That is the only contracts I am talking
about now. Will you honor them?
Mr. Lutnick. I cannot say that I can honor something I have
not read. I will read it and I can happily sit with you after I
have read it and discuss it with you.
Senator Markey. Well, again, it is just honoring contracts
that have been made, and that is the bargain. I wish that you
could give us more certainty on that because the companies made
a variety of commitments in their community impact reports. As
you pay out CHIPS Act awards, will you commit to enforcing the
commitments that these community impact reports require?
Mr. Lutnick. Sure. I will, to the extent monies have been
disbursed, I will commit to rigorously enforcing the documents
that have been signed by those companies to make sure we get
the benefit of the bargain. If they have agreed to do things, I
will rigorously enforce that.
Senator Markey. That is the bargain, again. These
commitments were made as part of final grant contracts. So it
is unacceptable for then the government to come back and to
simply ignore the terms of those agreements because it was a
bargain, and they have to get the benefit of that contract,
which they signed. And I am going to be very much looking
forward to seeing how you implement that.
And I will let you turn to just one final subject here,
artificial intelligence. AI has infiltrated every sector of our
economy. We talked about this in my office--housing,
healthcare, employment, the criminal justice system, social
media, the list goes on and on and on and on. It is going to be
our society. And while AI innovation is important and we do
want to use it to potentially find a cure for cancer and other
diseases, that would be great.
But we also have to make sure that the AI age does not
supercharge preexisting bias and discrimination in our society
using super algorithms to look at people in our society and
then make it easier to discriminate against them. And earlier
this year, you seemed to suggest that efforts to address
discriminatory algorithms was, quote, ``nonsense.''
So I would like to just have you expand a little bit. Is
that accurate? Is that your view, that as we move forward to
ensure that AI algorithms do not allow for greater
discrimination on our society, that that is not nonsense to
have that as our goal?
Mr. Lutnick. I think AI standards set by America are
fundamental, and we should set fundamental standards trying to
be, as I said, we were incredibly successful with the Internet
and our standards and that created the greatness that is
America and American technology. We are great the way we set
standards in cyber. We have done a great job. It is the gold
standard of the world. And I would like us to pursue at
Commerce standards in AI that are like those two, which set the
standard for the world.
Senator Markey. And I appreciate that. As the author of the
three bills in the 1990s that moved America from narrow band to
broadband, I understand that. I am the author of the laws that
moved us to this broadband world that we are in. But my
question is to you, there is a sinister side to cyberspace too,
a negative side, a dangerous side. Will you commit to working
to prevent and mitigate discriminatory AI-powered algorithms
proliferating in our country?
Mr. Lutnick. It makes sense.
Senator Markey. OK. Well, I look forward to working with
you on that because I just think right now we hear too much
hype from the geniuses about all the good it is going to do.
But simultaneously, there is another side of all this. And if
you are somebody who has been discriminated against in the
past, it is very likely the algorithms will be deployed to hurt
them. And we are going to need to work with the Department of
Commerce, to put real protections in place, not voluntary,
because we already see the Chinese are figuring out how to come
in without paying the price that our Silicon Valley geniuses
have. And we got to make sure that across the board, all of
these companies, all of these algorithms meet the highest
standards for protection against discrimination.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your indulgence.
Senator Cantwell. Mr. Chairman, if I could just enter for
the record and correct that a lot of discussion about BEAD,
that IIJA funding has connected 100,000 plus locations and
built hundreds of miles within miles. So the notion that nobody
has gotten connected is just not correct. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator Cantwell. I will note that
it may be possible there are other programs that have connected
people, but the $40 billion BEAD program has connected zero
homes and locations.
I will also note for the record that you just had an
exchange with Senator Markey about the CHIPS and Sciences
Program. The Biden administration ignored the text of the law
and grafted onto it a host of left-wing social objectives,
including mandates to open day cares, including the Green New
Deal, including every policy agenda they had that was not in
the law.
And the idea that the Commerce Committee is somehow bound
to follow the Biden administration's left-wing agenda that they
could not get the votes for in the U.S. Congress is absurd, and
just for the record, in my view, your obligation is to follow
the law, not their extralegal policy addenda that were stuck
onto those contracts.
Senator Markey. I think if the Chairman would yield, all I
am asking for is compliance with what was already signed.
The Chairman. The fact that the prior administration caused
people to sign things that were not reflected in the law, there
is no reason at all that they should be held extralegal
commitments that I recognize are policy objectives of
Democrats, but you did not have the votes to enact them into
law. It was not an accident that they were not in the law, and
it was purely disregarding the law that the Biden
administration forced them onto it. And so fidelity to the law
would be returning to the actual statute that was enacted the
law, not the policy preferences of the prior President.
Senator Markey. If the Chairman would yield, these were
arm's length negotiations between the agencies.
The Chairman. There is nothing arm's length when one side
has $60 billion and the other side is trying to get it. It is
not arm's length. I understand that they can do a highway
robbery, but that is not an arm's length negotiation. Yes, they
want the money.
Senator Markey. No one has to sign anything. If people
decide they want to sign, they are bound. That is the law.
The Chairman. OK. They are not bound by extra legal
agreements, and I feel confident the Administration is going to
follow actual Federal law and not the policy preferences of the
previous administration.
All right. We have an open vote that we are about to miss,
so let's not miss this vote on the Senate floor.
Senator Cantwell. Mr. Chairman, I would just say we are all
in agreement, the United States needs to bring manufacturing
back to the United States and move ahead. Yes, please close
this out. Thank you.
[Applause.]
The Chairman. All right, Mr. Lutnick. My final question is
required of all nominees. If confirmed, do you pledge to work
collaboratively with this committee to provide thorough and
timely responses to the Committee's request and to appear
before the Committee when requested?
Mr. Lutnick. I do.
The Chairman. Thank you. I also have here 30 letters of
support from various organizations for Mr. Lutnick's nomination
to be Secretary of Commerce. I ask unanimous consent for the 30
letters to be inserted in the hearing record. Without
objection, so ordered.
[The information referred to follows:]
American Forest & Paper Association
January 2, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz, Chairman,
Hon. Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), I am
writing in support of President Trump's nomination of Howard Lutnick to
serve as the Secretary of Commerce.
AF&PA serves to advance U.S. paper and wood products manufacturers
through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. The forest
products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total
U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures about $350 billion in essential
products annually and employs about 925,000 people. The industry meets
a payroll of about $65 billion annually and over 75 percent of our
facilities are located in counties that are over 80 percent rural. The
forest products industry is circular by nature. AF&PA member companies
make essential products from renewable and recyclable resources,
generate renewable bioenergy and are committed to continuous
improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative--Better
Practices, Better Planet 2030: Sustainable Products for a Sustainable
Future.
U.S. forest products exports account for a significant piece of the
industry's total sales and in 2023, the industry's global exports
totaled over $9 billion. AF&PA strongly supports free but fair trade
and in today's globalized market, it is critical for the U.S. forest
products manufacturing sector to achieve unrestricted access to
international markets and level the playing field among international
competitors by eliminating both tariff and non-tariff barriers such as
restrictive import regulations.
In 2023, the European Union (EU) enacted the EU Deforestation-free
Regulation (EUDR), a regulation that aims at eliminating products sold
in the EU that are linked to deforestation, is unworkable and
disadvantages the U.S. forest products industry, small U.S. family
forest owners, and threatens to disrupt trade with the EU valued at
more than $3.5 billion. The U.S. forest products industry is among the
most responsible suppliers of forest fiber in the world, and a strong
proponent of international efforts to suppress deforestation and forest
degradation. The prescriptive requirements of the regulation, however,
will unjustifiably increase compliance costs and weaken U.S. producers'
market access to established EU trading partners.
We believe Mr. Lutnick is eminently qualified for this important
role and will execute President Trump's trade agenda in a thoughtful,
impactful manner with a focus on ensuring American manufacturers have
access to global markets. Mr. Lutnick's extensive experience as the
Chairman and CEO at Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group will prove
beneficial to the country when it comes to negotiating new trade
agreements and improving upon those already in place, as well as
pushing back against non-tariff trade barriers such as the EUDR.
Based on our knowledge of Mr. Lutnick and his background, we
believe his expertise, experience and professionalism make him an ideal
candidate for this important position.
Kind Regards,
Heidi Brock,
President and Chief Executive Officer.
______
Deel
January 21, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman, Senate Commerce Committee,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member, Senate Commerce Committee,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
Deel supports the nomination of Mr. Howard Lutnick as U.S.
Secretary of Commerce and recognizes the significant contributions of
outgoing Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Deel is a global payroll and HR platform operating in over 150
countries, partnering with businesses of all sizes to simplify the
complexities of global hiring, payroll, and compliance. The Department
of Commerce's leadership is critical in helping businesses navigate a
rapidly evolving global economy and fostering economic opportunities
for employers and workers alike.
Mr. Lutnick's extensive leadership experience and deep
understanding of market dynamics make him exceptionally well-suited to
lead the Department at this pivotal time. His expertise will be
invaluable in advancing policies that drive innovation, create jobs,
and enhance American competitiveness on the global stage.
Under Secretary Raimondo's leadership, the Department of Commerce
played a vital role in fostering innovation and expanding global trade.
Building on that progress will be essential for continued economic
growth. Deel looks forward to collaborating with the Department under
Mr. Lutnick's leadership, leveraging the strong foundation laid by
Secretary Raimondo.
Please consider Deel a resource and strategic partner in boosting
trade, investment, and U.S. competitiveness. Thank you for the
opportunity to provide input on this important nomination.
Nick Catino,
Global Head of Policy,
Deel.
About Deel
Deel is the all-in-one HR and payroll platform for global teams. It
helps companies simplify every aspect of managing a workforce, from
onboarding, compliance, and performance management to global payroll,
HRIS, and immigration support. Deel works for full-time employees and
independent contractors in more than 150 countries, compliantly. And
getting set up takes just a few minutes. For more information, visit
deel.com.
______
NATE: The Communications
Infrastructure Contractors Association
Watertown, SD, January 22, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Cruz:
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
fully supports the nomination of Howard Lutnick to serve as the next
Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick brings a wealth of experience as a
business leader and understands the challenges of main street
enterprises. Considering the Commerce Department's role in closing the
digital divide, our organization believes his experience and expertise
is perfectly suited for this significant role to unleash next
generation connectivity across the U.S. and enable American
entrepreneurs to keep our Nation the best place for business.
NATE is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a
unified voice for companies in the diverse tower, broadband, and
communications infrastructure industries. Today, the Association boasts
approximately 1,000 member companies (mostly small businesses) that
construct, service or maintain hundreds of thousands of communications
towers and next generation networks throughout the United States. The
NATE community is made up of the small businesses working on the front
lines of broadband deployment and we look forward to working with the
next administration on shared policies that serve to enable
connectivity for everyone.
Sincerely,
Todd Schlekeway,
President and CEO,
NATE.
______
SpaceX
Brownsville, TX, January 24, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chair, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
On behalf of SpaceX, the leading launch services and space
technology provider in the world, I write to express our strong support
for Howard Lutnick and encourage his swift confirmation to be
Secretary of Commerce. Over the course of his more than 40 year career,
Mr. Lutnick has demonstrated a commitment to innovation, job creation,
and leadership that will well serve the United States. In addition to
its mission to create the conditions for economic growth and
opportunity, the Department of Commerce plays an important role in
space policy, space services, space sciences, spectrum coordination,
and broadband through the Ofice of Space Commerce (OSC) and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Mr.
Lutnick is exceptionally qualified for this position.
SpaceX is pleased to add our support to the chorus of individuals,
companies, and other organizations who have already voiced their
support for Mr. Lutnick.
Sincerely,
Mat Dunn,
Senior Director, Global Business
and Government Afairs.
______
ACA Connects--America's Communications Association
Beaver, PA, January 24, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chair, Senate Commerce, Science,
and Transportation Committee,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member, Senate Commerce, Science,
and Transportation Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
I write in support of Howard Lutnick's nomination to be U.S.
Secretary of Commerce. ACA Connects and our Membership believes he is a
strong choice to lead the Department of Commerce.
ACA Connects--America's Communications Association proudly
represents more than 500 smaller and medium-sized, independent
companies that provide broadband, video, and phone services. Our
Members, which operate in every state, cover nearly 32 million
households, 7.3 million of which are located in rural and smaller
suburban markets across America. They are at the forefront of
connecting homes, companies, main street, schools, hospitals, and more.
Their work to increase access to high-speed Internet and close the
digital divide touches every part of the economy and in every corner of
America.
The Secretary of Commerce plays a key role in promoting American
innovation and securing our global competitive edge. Not only do we
believe Mr. Lutnick is extremely qualified for this role, ACA Connects
shares in this mission. We look forward to working closely with the
Department of Commerce and the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) to deploy critical broadband
infrastructure, help ensure America wins the race against China in
emerging technologies, and support American jobs and prosperity.
We thank you for your thoughtful consideration of Mr. Lutnick
through the nomination process and urge support by the full Committee
and the Senate.
Sincerely,
Grant Spellmeyer,
President and CEO,
ACA Connects--America's Communications Association.
______
Independent Women
January 24, 2025
Independent Women Supports the Confirmation of Howard Lutnick as
Secretary of Commerce
Dear Senators,
Independent Women, which advances policies that enhance opportunity
and well-being, fully supports the confirmation of Howard Lutnick to
serve as Secretary of Commerce. President Trump deserves the team he
wants so that he can carry out the directive given to him by the
American people.
There is no question that Mr. Lutnick is incredibly qualified to
serve as Secretary of Commerce.
Mr. Lutnick has extensive experience in the business and tech world
and understands the ramifications of the Department's actions on
American businesses and the economy. He also understands that America's
interests must come first, and that our policies should support that
goal.
Independent Women is proud to support the nomination of such a
qualified nominee to serve as Secretary of Commerce. We urge senators
to provide Howard Lutnick with a fair and respectful hearing and to
confirm him as Secretary of Commerce.
Respectfully,
Heather R. Higgins,
CEO,
Independent Women's Voice.
Carrie Lukas,
Vice President,
Independent Women's Voice.
______
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
Washington, DC, 27 January 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman, Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Senator Cruz,
On behalf of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
(AFPM), we ask you to schedule a full committee vote as soon as
possible to confirm Howard Lutnick to be the next Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Commerce.
Throughout his distinguished career, Secretary nominee Lutnick has
demonstrated the ability to navigate complex financial, regulatory, and
economic challenges. With his deep understanding of business, and his
focus on creating environments where innovation can thrive, he is the
ideal candidate to implement policies that benefit America's domestic
and global economic competitiveness.
Our members depend on well-crafted policies that drive innovation
and ensure the global competitiveness of American energy. We are
confident that Secretary nominee Lutnick's leadership at the Department
of Commerce will bring a fresh perspective to these critical
priorities.
I strongly urge the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation to advance his nomination swiftly, and we offer our full
support for his appointment.
Sincerely,
Chet Thompson,
President and CEO,
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers.
______
American Petroleum Institute
January 27, 2025
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Chairman Ted Cruz,
Washington, DC.
RE: Nomination Hearing for Mr. Howard Lutnick
Chairman Cruz & Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation:
It is with great privilege that we issue our support for the
confirmation of Howard Lutnick as Secretary of the U.S. Department of
Commerce. The Department of Commerce endeavors to promote economic
growth and opportunity across our Nation through its 13 bureaus that
strengthen our Nation through economic competitiveness, domestic
industry, and quality jobs. The Department of Commerce plays a critical
role in our economy, and we are confident in Mr. Lutnick's ability to
lead the agency.
As CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group, Mr. Lutnick brings
decades of executive leadership in the financial services and
investment banking industries to the agency. Mr. Lutnick's experience
goes beyond the role of a traditional CEO and his character is a
testament to the American spirit. During the September 11th attacks,
Cantor Fitzgerald, located in the World Trade Center, sustained the
largest loss of life among any businesses that day. This loss of life
included Mr. Lutnick's brother and 70 percent of the firm's total
employees. Following the attacks, Mr. Lutnick overcame tragedy and
rebuilt Cantor Fitzgerald into the thriving firm it is today. The
American Petroleum Institute (API) looks forward to his confirmation
and welcomes his leadership and character to the Department of
Commerce.
API represents all segments of America's oil and natural gas
industry. Its nearly 600 members produce, process and distribute most
of the Nation's energy. The industry supports millions of U.S. jobs and
is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans.
API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization. In our
first 100 years, API has developed more than 700 standards to enhance
operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.
All the best,
Mike Sommers,
President and CEO,
API.
______
Commercial Space Federation
Washington, DC, January 27, 2025
Chairman Ted Cruz,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Ranking Member Maria Cantwell,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of the Commercial Space Federation (CSF), the leading
trade association for the commercial space industry, I am writing to
convey CSF's support for the confirmation of Mr. Howard Lutnick as the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Mr. Lutnick's decades of business experience is critical to
fulfilling the U.S. Department of Commerce's mission to generate
economic growth and increase opportunities for the advancement of the
commercial space industry. CSF is confident that Mr. Lutnick's
leadership will promote and accelerate the commercial space industry
through streamlining regulatory requirements, integrating commercial
services into the Department's operational space missions, including
space situational awareness, and fully supporting the Department's
Office of Space Commerce. CSF looks forward to working with Mr. Lutnick
to bolster the standing of the United States as the global leader in
commercial space.
Thank you for your consideration of this letter in support of Mr.
Howard Lutnick's confirmation as the Secretary of the U.S. Department
of Commerce.
Sincerely,
Dave Cavossa,
President,
Commercial Space Federation.
______
CTIA--The Wireless Association
January 27, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chair,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of CTIA--The Wireless Association, I am writing to
express our support for the confirmation of Howard Lutnick as Secretary
of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick's business acumen,
leadership experience, and commitment to innovation make him an
outstanding candidate for this important position.
CTIA represents the U.S. wireless communications industry and the
companies throughout the mobile ecosystem that enable Americans to lead
a 21st-century connected life. Our members include wireless carriers,
device manufacturers, suppliers, and apps and content companies. Given
the Department of Commerce's vital role in spectrum management,
technology policy, and economic growth, Mr. Lutnick's appointment is of
great interest to our industry.
Mr. Lutnick's impressive career as Chairman and CEO of Cantor
Fitzgerald demonstrates his ability to navigate complex financial
markets and drive technological innovation. His experience in
rebuilding Cantor Fitzgerald after the September 11, 2001 attacks
showcases his leadership and commitment to both his employees and the
broader community. These qualities are essential for leading the
Department of Commerce in today's rapidly evolving economic landscape.
We believe Mr. Lutnick's expertise in technology and global markets
will be invaluable in addressing the challenges and opportunities
facing the U.S. wireless economy. His understanding of emerging
technologies being powered by 5G next generation services aligns well
with the department's mission to foster American innovation and
competitiveness. This knowledge will be crucial in shaping policies
that support the growth of the wireless industry, particularly in the
areas of 5G deployment and spectrum management. As China accelerates
its 5G-led digital transformation and leverages their mid-band spectrum
to develop industries of the future, Mr. Lutnick's leadership will be
instrumental in ensuring that the United States remains at the
forefront of the global spectrum race. His expertise will be vital for
our country's economic prosperity and national security, as well as in
developing a sustainable spectrum strategy that promotes innovation and
economic growth.
We believe that Mr. Lutnick's leadership will bring a fresh,
innovative approach to the Department of Commerce, crucial for
maintaining America's technological edge in an increasingly competitive
global landscape. We look forward to working with Mr. Lutnick and the
Department of Commerce to advance policies that promote innovation,
foster economic growth, and strengthen America's position as a global
leader in wireless technology and digital transformation. We urge his
swift confirmation as Secretary of Commerce.
Sincerely,
Meredith Attwell Baker.
______
Steel Manufacturers Association
Washington, DC, January 27, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
The Secretary of Commerce plays an essential role in ensuring
America's economic success. President Trump, led by America's steel
industry during his first administration, took definitive actions to
help build one of the strongest modern economies while putting American
workers first. America needs a strong Commerce Secretary that is
willing to take on unfair global trade practices and support American
jobs. The Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA) believes that Howard
Lutnick, with his unquestioned business reputation and expert
understanding of manufacturing, is an excellent choice to fight for
manufacturing in America and we offer our strong endorsement for his
confirmation as Secretary of Commerce.
China has sought to dominate global trade and supply chains through
its Belt and Road Initiative. China uses this global infrastructure,
transportation, trade and production network to depress or eliminate
competing production globally by dumping unfairly priced and heavily
subsidized steel products in other markets. American workers and
industry have borne the brunt of China's increasingly predatory
economic behavior.
The Department of Commerce controls one of the most important lines
of defense for American workers, the anti-dumping and countervailing
duty (AD/CVD) laws. However, these tools have not been significantly
updated for almost a decade and must be revised to effectively fight
back against the Belt and Road Initiative and other market-distorting
practices. The SMA looks forward to working with Congress and Mr.
Lutnick to provide the Department of Commerce new tools to address
China's most dangerous methods of destroying American jobs and
industries.
Another powerful tool to put America first are the Section 232 and
301 tariffs on steel products. Our domestic steel industry has seen a
resurgence since President Trump first instituted national security-
related tariffs on steel in March 2018. President Trump responded to an
industry that was suffering from surges of dumped imports by
instituting tariffs to support manufacturing in America. The tariffs
achieved their goals. American steel manufacturing rose in response and
members of the Steel Manufacturers Association responded with billions
of dollars in investments that created high paying jobs and has made
our domestic steel industry the envy of the world.
The SMA is hopeful that Mr. Lutnick will expertly partner with
President Trump to strengthen his deployment and strategic use of
tariffs on steel products. China is dumping historically high volumes
of government-subsidized steel onto the global market because its
economy has stagnated. China is preparing to dump nearly 100 million
tons of steel globally, which is more than the United States produces
annually. This dumping floods the United States and other markets with
steel below the cost of production. To combat these trade distortions,
President Trump and the USTR should strengthen and expand existing
tariffs to support American steel manufacturing and close the loopholes
and exemptions that have reduced the impact of the tariffs.
Mr. Lutnick is the ideal pick to implement President Trump's
landmark economic policy which aims to put America first. We encourage
the Committee to give bipartisan support to this uniquely qualified
candidate and look forward to working with Mr. Lutnick again in his new
role once confirmed.
Sincerely,
Philip K. Bell,
President,
Steel Manufacturers Association.
______
NTCA--The Rural Broadband Association
Arlington, VA, January 27, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Senate Committee on Commerce,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Senate Committee on Commerce,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
On behalf of the more than 850 rural, community-based broadband
providers represented by NTCA--The Rural Broadband Association
(``NTCA''), I extend our support for the nomination of Howard Lutnick
to serve as Secretary for the Department of Commerce.
For decades, NTCA's members have dedicated themselves to a shared
mission of providing state-of-the-art communications products and
services to consumers located in some of the most challenging to serve
rural and insular areas of our Nation. For example, our most recent
annual survey found that, on average, more than 80 percent of NTCA
members' customers have access to fiber connectivity and 100 Mbps
broadband service or better; nearly 61 percent of members' customers on
average have access to Gigabit downstream speeds. These accomplishments
are staggering when you factor that the average population density in
most service areas is less than seven customers per square mile; to put
this in context, this is roughly the average density for the entire
state of Montana. There is no question that small-rural Internet
service providers are a part of the equation as we work to provide
Americans with affordable, reliable Internet services that withstand
the test of time.
As you well know, the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) within the Commerce Department plays an important
role in helping to guide and coordinate the policies of the
administration with respect to telecommunications and broadband issues.
We believe Mr. Lutnick's experience and background in working with a
variety of industries and businesses uniquely qualify him as the sort
of leader who can help administer and navigate efforts to close the
digital divide in America. Should Mr. Lutnick be confirmed, we would
look forward to continuing to work with him, the Commerce Department,
and NTIA to promote and sustain access to affordable and reliable
broadband for the benefit of every American.
Thank you for your consideration of our support for Mr. Lutnick. We
look forward to working together with President Trump's administration
and Congress to build upon existing efforts, and to leverage them
wherever possible to extend broadband to those millions of Americans
still lacking access today.
Sincerely,
Shirley Bloomfield,
Chief Executive Officer.
______
USTelecom--The Broadband Association
Washington, DC, January 27, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Senate Commerce Committee,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Senate Commerce Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
On behalf of USTelecom--The Broadband Association, I write to
express our strong support for the nomination of Mr. Howard Lutnick to
serve as Secretary of Commerce. This appointment represents a critical
opportunity to advance policies that will strengthen America's position
as a global leader in connectivity, resilience, and innovation.
Broadband is the digital backbone of our economy, enabling
innovation, driving economic growth, and connecting communities. The
Department of Commerce plays an essential role in ensuring that every
part of the Nation can benefit from these opportunities through
broadband deployment, Federal spectrum management, cybersecurity
preparedness, and fostering cutting-edge technologies.
The BEAD program represents historic investments in America's
broadband network infrastructure. USTelecom and our members look
forward to working with Mr. Lutnick to improve the BEAD Program to
ensure that more Americans in rural communities are connected to high-
speed broadband. USTelecom stands ready to collaborate with the
Commerce Department under Mr. Lutnick's leadership to transform this
historic opportunity into a lasting legacy of connectivity.
We are encouraged by Mr. Lutnick's dedication to innovative
leadership and his vision for advancing emerging technologies.
USTelecom looks forward to working collaboratively with him and the
Department of Commerce to advance risk-based, harmonized cybersecurity
policies that enhance the security of critical infrastructure while
fostering innovation and operational efficiencies for the
communications sector. We urge the Committee to favorably report Mr.
Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce and to move his nomination for
full Senate consideration. Thank you for considering this pivotal
nomination.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Spalter,
President and Chief Executive Officer.
______
Verizon
Washington, DC, Monday, January 27th
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz:
Verizon writes today to support President Donald J. Trump's
nomination of Howard Lutnick to be the 41st U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
We appreciate the Senate Commerce Committee's timely consideration of
his nomination given the vital role this position holds within the
Federal government. Mr. Lutnick's deep knowledge and experience in
finance and business make him uniquely qualified to manage the Commerce
Department in the new Administration.
As a U.S.-based company that has invested domestically more than
$212 billion in private capital from 2017-2024, we look forward to
collaborating with the Commerce Department on a wide range of
initiatives and policies, specifically on pro-growth and pro-consumer
spectrum and broadband policy. Just last week President Trump
highlighted, in his reestablishment of the President's Council of
Advisors on Science and Technology, the need for the U.S. to lead again
in 5G and improved access to spectrum. There's no doubt that the
Commerce Department, with the NTIA, has a prime opportunity to reassert
leadership in the efficient management of Federal spectrum resources,
just as it did under President Trump's first term.
The robust services and seamless connectivity Verizon delivers
through its wired and wireless broadband networks can only be made
possible with strong leadership at the Department of Commerce. We look
forward to working with you and the new Administration to positively
position our country as a global leader in digital infrastructure. That
is why we encourage you and your colleagues in the U.S. Senate to
confirm Mr. Lutnick's nomination as soon as possible so we can reassert
U.S. leadership, protect national security, expand economic growth, and
build stronger digital opportunities for the American public. Thank you
for your service and continued leadership of the Senate Commerce
Committee.
Respectfully,
Robert S Fisher,
SVP, Federal Government Relations
& Public Affairs.
______
American Chemistry Council
Washington, DC, January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) supports the confirmation of
Howard Lutnick as Secretary of the Department of Commerce
(``Department''). As President and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, Mr.
Lutnick has a proven track record of success in managing a leading U.S.
firm with positive impact across our economy. We are confident Mr.
Lutnick will effectively lead the Department toward fulfilling its
mission of driving U.S. economic competitiveness and strengthening
domestic industry.
The ACC represents more than 190 companies engaged in the business
of chemistry. We represent the people and companies creating
groundbreaking products that are improving the world all around us by
making it healthier, safer, more sustainable and more productive. In
total, $633 billion is generated annually by the business of chemistry,
which supports over 25 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and
directly touches nearly all manufactured goods.
We look forward to working with Mr. Lutnick on the CHIPS for
America program. Over 500 different process chemicals are used to
manufacture a single semiconductor making our industry a critical part
of their manufacturing supply chain. We want to ensure the research and
production of these important semiconductors remains within the United
States.
The Committee and Senate should move swiftly to confirm Howard
Lutnick's nomination and support American innovation through chemistry
for years to come. It is imperative that American industries continue
to innovate, create jobs and grow the U.S. economy.
Sincerely,
Chis Jahn,
President and CEO.
______
American Beverage Association
Washington, DC, January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chaimrnn,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chaimrnn Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
I write to share the American Beverage Association's support for
Howard Lutnik to serve as Secretary of Commerce. Secretary-Designee
Lutnik's experience as a business leader and his commitment to
America's entrepreneurial spirit can drive a new chapter of growth for
American business.
America's non-alcoholic beverage companies are proud of our role in
the American economy. We are iconic American companies that make
American products with American workers in America's hometowns. We
employ more than 270,000 hard-working Americans in every state in the
Nation and deliver $247 billion direct economic impact. Our companies,
distributors and employees are committed to improving the communities
in which we live and work, contributing $2.5 billion to charitable
causes annually.
American competitiveness is essential to our business and requires
policies that advance a thriving economy, spur innovation in the
marketplace and enable a prepared workforce. As a successful executive,
Secretary-Designee Lutnik understands this intimately and his
nomination presents an opportunity to strengthen American
competitiveness at home and on the world stage.
Our industry looks forward to working with the Secretary-designee,
the Trump Administration and this Committee on policies that grow our
economy and enable our member companies to continue to innovate and
thrive.
Sincerely,
Kevin W. Keane,
President and CEO.
______
Digital First Project
January 28, 2025
Dear Commerce Committee,
President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Howard Lutnick as
Secretary of Commerce brings bold leadership to one of the most pivotal
roles in government. Lutnick, the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and a strong
advocate for cryptocurrency and small businesses, is uniquely
positioned to drive innovation and economic growth. We encourage the
Senate to quickly confirm the right choice for Secretary.
Lutnick's extensive business leadership in the face of adversity
set him apart. His biography exemplifies determination and leadership
under pressure. His ability to navigate crises and implement
transformative strategies has earned him respect across industries.
The Commerce Department oversees a broad portfolio, from managing
the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD)
program to funding semiconductor manufacturing and regulating trade.
Lutnick's experience makes him an ideal choice to guide these
initiatives. With the BEAD program advancing broadband access
nationwide, his leadership can ensure its efficient implementation,
built around transparency and accountability to ensure that any dollar
spent is wisely spent on deployment.
Additionally he has been a champion for cryptocurrency and AI,
positioning him to modernize commerce and drive innovation. As a vocal
supporter of Bitcoin and blockchain technology, he has championed their
potential to revolutionize finance and commerce. His vision aligns with
Trump's embrace of digital currencies, including the campaign's crypto
donation initiative.
With Lutnick at the helm, the Commerce Department is poised to
advance policies that prioritize economic resilience, technological
leadership, and equitable growth. His nomination is a testament to the
Trump administration's commitment to bold, transformative leadership
for America's future.
Sincerely,
Nathan Leamer,
Executive Director,
Digital First Project.
Originally Posted: https://digitalfirstproject.substack.com/p/digital-
first-supports-howard-lutnick
______
Global Business Alliance
January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of the Global Business Alliance (GBA), I am writing in
support of Mr. Howard Lutnick's nomination to be U.S. Secretary of
Commerce and to emphasize the critical importance of global investment
to U.S. economic growth and job creation.
GBA represents nearly 200 leading international companies, all of
whom are major U.S. employers and globally headquartered in countries
that are our Nation's long-time friends and allies. International
companies have invested over $5 trillion into the U.S. economy, employ
8.4 million U.S. workers and offer compensation that is seven percent
higher than the U.S. national average. Many of those jobs are in your
home states.
As you may know, the Commerce Secretary leads SelectUSA, the only
Federal initiative squarely focused on attracting international
companies to invest and create jobs in the United States. A predictable
and transparent regulatory environment ensures that international
companies can operate efficiently within the U.S., on equal footing
with other major U.S. employers. Advancing trade and investment
agreements with allied nations--especially key investor countries--is
an untapped opportunity for U.S. job growth.
International companies are also advancing American innovation,
bringing world-class know-how to U.S. manufacturing. Ensuring America
remains open to the best of what the world has to offer is critical to
America's long-term economic and national security.
Mr. Lutnick's distinguished career in business and proven expertise
make him well-qualified to lead the Commerce Department.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Samford
President and CEO,
Global Business Alliance.
______
January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of America's 13.8 million saltwater anglers and our
collective $98 billion economic impact, we write to express our strong
support for the advancement of Howard Lutnick's nomination to serve as
the 41st Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick is an iconic American
business leader who successfully shepherded his firm through the
challenging aftermath of the September 11th attacks. As a tested
leader, we believe he is well positioned to lead the Department of
Commerce and advise the President on the strength of American business
and industry. His track record of innovation, foresight and commitment
to fostering economic growth is well known and impressive by any
measure.
The Department of Commerce badly needs a visionary leader. Within
Commerce, the recreational saltwater fishing industry has faced its
most challenging four years related to ocean and fishing access. NOAA
Fisheries has lost its way and the trust of the American public. Sound
science and principled leadership are both needed to restore that
trust. Mr. Lutnick's confirmation is one critical step to addressing
the business-killing restrictions advocated by NOAA over the past four
years.
The last U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report heralded
outdoor recreation's contribution to the U.S. economy at $1.2
trillion--accounting for 2.3 percent of GDP--with recreational boating
and fishing as the largest contributor. This underscores the essential
role our industry plays in the national economy and the importance of
responsible policies that protect these contributions. The recreational
fishing industry and our angling community have long been leaders in
conservation, contributing nearly $1.5 billion annually through excise
taxes, license fees and donations. These efforts support healthy fish
populations and sustainable marine habitats--key to the future of our
sport.
Mr. Lutnick's expertise in economic policy positions him to
champion the interests of the recreational fishing industry while
promoting sustainable practices that ensure our natural resources are
preserved for future generations. In his distinguished career, Mr.
Lutnick has consistently demonstrated his ability to identify
opportunities for growth while balancing the needs of diverse
stakeholders. This approach aligns seamlessly with the priorities of
the recreational fishing community, which relies on sound management of
fisheries, investments in conservation and policies that encourage
access to public waters.
Our industry looks forward to supporting Mr. Lutnick's thoughtful,
collaborative and measured perspective at the Department of Commerce.
We urge the Committee to support and advance Mr. Lutnick's nomination
to allow for the Senate to expeditiously confirm him to serve as the
next Secretary of Commerce.
Sincerely,
American Sportfishing Association
BoatUS
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Center for Sportfishing Policy
Coastal Conservation Association
International Game Fish Association
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
National Marine Manufacturers Association
______
Satellite Industry Association
Washington, DC, January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
On behalf of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA), the trade
association representing the domestic commercial satellite and space
industries, I wish to express our strong support for the confirmation
of Howard Lutnick as Secretary of the United States Department of
Commerce.
Throughout his career, Mr. Lutnick has demonstrated resilience,
leadership and a strong appreciation for the value of technology.
Thanks to tremendous leaps in space-based technology and innovation,
the commercial satellite industry is growing at an unprecedented rate.
There are now over 11,500 satellites operating in Earth orbit compared
with 2,500 just a mere five years ago. Satellites not only provide
communications, broadband, Earth observation, video and other services
to enterprise customers and hundreds of millions of American consumers
each day, but they are also vital for government, defense and first
responder/natural disaster applications.
This is a critical time for the industry and as the association
advocating on behalf of America's satellite and space interests, SIA
strongly urges the Senate to rapidly confirm Mr. Lutnick. We look
forward to working with him and the Commerce Department--including
NTIA, NOAA, BIS and the Office of Space Commerce--to help ensure
America's continued leadership in space-based innovation and dominant
position in the rapidly expanding global space economy.
Sincerely,
Tom Stroup,
President,
Satellite Industry Association.
______
ACT | The App Association
January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
ACT | The App Association supports the nomination of Howard Lutnick
to serve as United States Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Lutnick has a
track record of success in business and demonstrated unwavering
dedication to advancing American interests. We welcome his
confirmation.
The App Association is the leading trade group representing small
business application developers and connected device companies in the
United States and around the world. These companies drive a global app
economy worth $6.3 trillion, which supports 6.1 million American jobs.
App Association members leverage the connectivity of smart devices to
create innovative solutions that introduce new eRiciencies across
consumer and enterprise use cases. They rely on forward-thinking
government that prioritizes unleashing small business growth and
success in the app economy.
Mr. Lutnick's demonstrated leadership in bringing Cantor Fitzgerald
back from the brink following the September 11 attacks and his
dedication to both innovation and philanthropy are evidence of his
strong management capabilities that make him a solid choice to lead the
Department of Commerce. Notably, Mr. Lutnick's experience in sourcing
investment for growing companies positions him well to understand the
perspectives of App Association members. Small businesses in the app
economy need the Commerce Department to support policies that enable
them to attract investment, compete domestically and abroad, and engage
in pro-competitive transactions.
Government policies--both in the United States and abroad--that
have cast a pall of uncertainty over markets for investing in fast-
growing firms in the app economy have had a cascading eRect on the
ecosystem. The Commerce Department should decline to limit innovation
with overregulation and instead implement a risk-based approach to
emerging technologies like artificial intelligence oversight and
guardrails. Further, previous government policies have enabled bad
actors to prevent small businesses from innovating on top of technical
standards. If the United States is to lead in technological innovation,
the Department of Commerce must join the entire Administration in
taking a strong stand against abusive standard-essential patent (SEP)
licensing practices that undermine U.S. supply chain integrity as well
as economic and national security; and deny American innovators the
opportunity to license SEPs on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory
(FRAND) terms.
With respect to mergers and acquisitions, U.S. government policy
changes in the last few years have reduced potential returns on equity
investment; curtailed willingness to invest in companies like our
members; depressed companies' enterprise value; made it more costly for
new companies to borrow; and obstructed the ability to export U.S.
innovations, all of which have raised barriers to entry and slowed
startup and small firm growth and job creation. As another leading
example, interventions into digital platform and other emerging
technology markets have undermined curated online marketplace (COM)
management, which small business innovators leverage and benefit
from more than their larger competitors. The next Secretary of Commerce
must pivot to broadly advance pro-innovation, regulatory approaches
scaled to actual harms, and further oppose eRorts by other countries,
both directly and in key multilateral fora, to disadvantage U.S. small
businesses seeking to compete abroad so they can grow and create jobs
here.
We urge this Committee to quickly confirm Mr. Lutnick and look
forward to working with you on related issues that aRect App
Association members in the 119th Congress.
Sincerely,
Morgan Reed,
President,
ACT | The App Association.
______
National Retail Federation
Washington, DC, January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of the National Retail Federation, I write in support of
the nomination of Mr. Howard Lutnick as the next Secretary of the
Department of Commerce. We believe his experience makes him the ideal
candidate as the next Secretary to lead the economic growth agenda for
the Trump administration. We respectfully encourage the Senate Commerce
Committee to support his nomination and for the Senate to confirm Mr.
Lutnick as soon as possible.
NRF, the world's largest retail trade association, passionately
advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail
succeed. NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is
the Nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $5.3
trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs--55 million
working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every
retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating
the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global
economies.
As the next Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Lutnick will play a key role
in the Trump administration's work to help create the best conditions
for economic growth, enhance our global competitiveness and make life
more affordable for American families. This is vital for retailers,
both large and small, and the millions of jobs they support and
communities and customers they serve. From trade to technology to
standards, the Department plays a crucial role in the success and
competitiveness of U.S. retailers. Mr. Lutnick is in a prime position
to help retailers continue to succeed.
We look forward to working with Committee members and the new
Secretary to achieve our next phase of economic growth. Thank you for
your consideration.
Sincerely,
David French,
Executive Vice President,
Government Relations.
______
TechNet
Washington, DC, January 28, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
TechNet appreciates the opportunity to express support for the
nomination of Howard Lutnick for Secretary of the Department of
Commerce. Mr. Lutnick has deep business experience and is well
qualified to lead the agency tasked with promoting American growth and
competitiveness. We urge you to give his nomination careful yet
expeditious consideration.
TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of technology CEOs and
senior executives that promotes the growth of the innovation economy by
advocating a targeted policy agenda at the Federal and 50-state level.
TechNet's diverse membership includes dynamic American businesses
ranging from startups to the most iconic companies on the planet and
represents over 4.5 million employees and countless customers in the
fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, e-commerce,
the sharing and gig economies, advanced energy, transportation,
cybersecurity, venture capital, and finance.
The United States is in a race to win the next era of innovation.
We cannot take America's tech leadership for granted if we are to
remain at the forefront of the technologies shaping the 21st century,
particularly against strategic competitors like China. The Department
of Commerce plays a critical role in fostering innovation that achieves
this important objective, including through policies and research that
encourage economic growth and ensure American leadership in emerging
technologies. These policies include, among others, reducing excessive
regulatory burdens that hinder growth and innovation, investing in
Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs to drive development in
communities across the country, promoting America's global leadership
in AI and AI safety, using trade tools such as tariffs strategically
while reducing unnecessary barriers to physical and digital trade, and
protecting American businesses from the threat of discriminatory and
unfair foreign taxation.
We look forward to working with you and Mr. Lutnick on these and
other issues to protect and support American innovation and advance our
shared priorities. Thank you for your consideration of TechNet's views
on this matter.
Sincerely,
Carl Holshouser,
Executive Vice President.
______
Business Software Alliance
Washington, DC, January 29, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
I am writing on behalf of the Business Software Alliance to share
our support for the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be the Secretary of
Commerce of the United States.
The Business Software Alliance is the global trade association of
the enterprise software industry, representing companies that are
leaders in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing,
design, construction and manufacturing tools, and other cutting-edge
technologies. We work in over 20 markets in the US, Europe, and Asia,
advocating for policies that build trust in technology so that every
industry sector and the public can benefit from innovation.
Mr. Lutnick's extensive experience in spearheading digital
transformation initiatives gives him an important perspective for
Commerce Secretary. From implementing advanced analytics to modernizing
operations, Mr. Lutnick has consistently championed the integration of
innovative digital tools, showcasing their transformative potential
across sectors. This experience can prove invaluable as the Department
plays a critical role in the development and adoption of American
technology, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and
others.
As Secretary, Mr. Lutnick will play an important role in advancing
policies that promote growth, innovation, and global competitiveness in
the business-to-business (B2B) software sector. His deep understanding
of the challenges that businesses face in the digital age will make him
uniquely qualified to lead the agency tasked with serving as the voice
of business and creating conditions for economic growth and opportunity
for all.
Thank Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Cantwell and the entire
Committee for considering his nomination today.
Sincerely,
Craig Albright,
Senior Vice President,
Business Software Alliance.
______
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Reston, VA, January 29, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
RE: AIAA STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD IN SUPPORT OF THE NOMINATION OF
HOWARD LUTNICK FOR SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
On behalf of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
(AIAA), I am pleased to endorse the nomination of Mr. Howard Lutnick as
the next Secretary of Commerce.
Howard Lutnick's tenure as Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald
and BGC Partners showcases his ability to lead complex organizations
through periods of rapid transformation and challenge. Under his
leadership, Cantor Fitzgerald became a global leader in financial
services and technology, spearheading innovations that reflect his
capacity to adapt to dynamic markets and drive progress. His proven
ability to guide companies into the future aligns seamlessly with the
Department's role in promoting U.S. economic leadership in emerging
industries, including aerospace and space exploration.
The Department of Commerce's oversight of the Office of Space
Commerce positions Mr. Lutnick to make a profound impact on the
aerospace sector. His strategic mindset will support the Office of
Space Commerce's efforts to ensure sustainable growth, global
competitiveness, and effective regulation of commercial space
activities.
Moreover, Mr. Lutnick's strong commitment to philanthropy and
education demonstrates his understanding of the critical role talent
development plays in the success of any industry.
As the world's largest aerospace technical society, with nearly
30,000 individual members and nearly 100 corporate members, AIAA
believes that Mr. Lutnick is the right person to lead the Department of
Commerce. AIAA wholeheartedly supports his nomination.
Sincerely,
Clay Mowry,
CEO.
______
Innovation Alliance
January 29, 2025
Honorable Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
The Innovation Alliance writes in support of the nomination of
Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce. In the nearly twenty years of
the Innovation Alliance's existence, never before has there been a
nominee for Secretary of Commerce with the breadth and depth of
experience with intellectual property as Mr. Lutnick, who himself is
listed as the inventor on many hundreds of patents. We are confident
that installing Mr. Lutnick at the helm of the Commerce Department will
give the Trump Administration exactly the leadership this critical
agency needs at this moment of great power competition on innovation
and technology.
The Alliance is a coalition of U.S.-based research and development-
focused technology companies representing innovators, patent owners,
and stakeholders from a wide range of industries that believes in the
critical importance of maintaining a strong patent system that supports
innovative enterprises of all sizes. We are committed to strengthening
the U.S. patent system to promote innovation, economic growth, and job
creation, and we support legislation and policies that help to achieve
those goals.
The Innovation Alliance appreciates the government-wide efforts of
the first Trump Administration to strengthen U.S. innovation. During
that time, under the leadership of Director Andrei Iancu, the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) took decisive action to reduce the
backlog of U.S. patents, clarify the law of patent subject matter
eligibility, and impose rules and guidelines to ensure fairness at the
Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The Antitrust Division of the
Department of Justice (DOJ) worked to ensure U.S. businesses remained
competitive on a global scale and supported the rights of innovators to
protect their intellectual property (IP), including by issuing a joint
policy statement with the USPTO and the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) clarifying that injunctions should be available
to stop infringement of standard essential patents (SEPs). Trump
Administration national security officials also recognized the critical
role that U.S. innovation leadership in foundational research and
development, global technology standards setting, and IP licensing
plays in our national security and economic competitiveness. They took
concrete steps to maintain U.S. innovation leadership, including
directing the U.S. Trade Representative to investigate IP theft and
abuse by foreign actors.
We believe Mr. Lutnick is the right choice as Secretary of Commerce
to build on this legacy and strategically position the United States to
meet the challenge presented by foreign competitors. If the United
States is to meet this challenge, we must aggressively incentivize
long-term private investment into critical and emerging technological
areas.
The U.S. patent system--enshrined in the Constitution--provides the
foundational incentive for American innovators. By allowing inventors
to own their inventions for a limited time in exchange for public
disclosure so other inventors can build and improve on them, the U.S.
patent system, as Abraham Lincoln said, adds ``the fuel of interest to
the fire of genius,'' helping to create the greatest innovation economy
in the world.
Despite the success of the patent system in promoting U.S.
technology leadership, we must do more to ensure the system continues
to incentivize the most innovative U.S. inventors and entrepreneurs to
develop new technologies. Since the early 2000s, a series of judicial
decisions, shortsighted legislation, and a sustained campaign of
attacks on the patent system by Big Tech have undermined patents as a
catalyst for American innovation and economic success. The inability of
patent owners to obtain injunctions against patent infringement has led
to Big Tech companies concluding that it is cheaper to steal patented
technologies from small inventors and pay a court-ordered royalty--
after months or years of expensive litigation for the inventor--than it
is to follow the law and pay for a license up front. The PTAB, designed
to be a faster, cheaper method for adjudicating patent validity, has
become a tool of Big Tech to extort settlements from inventors and
small businesses who fear their patents will be canceled.
This degradation of U.S. patent rights is depressing U.S. economic
growth and job creation and undermining U.S. competitiveness globally.
Many patent holders are now able to obtain better protections for their
patent rights overseas than they are in the United States. Some courts
issue injunctions as a matter of course following a finding of
infringement. We have also seen efforts to weaken the ability of the
U.S. International Trade Commission to prevent the import of IP-
infringing products into the United States, which would further
undercut U.S. global competitiveness.
At the same time, U.S. patent rights are under threat from foreign
governments seeking to secure competitive advantage in key
technologies. They abuse their legal processes, including court
proceedings and antitrust enforcement, to set global royalty rates on
standardized technologies to devalue U.S.-developed technologies and
unfairly advantage its domestic companies. Another proposal pending in
the EU to regulate standardized technologies would similarly harm U.S.
technologies and legitimize these abusive tactics.
We have confidence that Mr. Lutnick can help correct this
trajectory and reclaim undisputed U.S. global technology leadership by
supporting pro-innovation actions, including:
Supporting bipartisan legislation, such as the RESTORE
Patent Rights Act, the Promoting and Respecting Economically
Vital American Innovation Leadership Act (PREVAIL) Act, and the
Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA).
The RESTORE Patent Rights Act will restore the
inventors' right to a permanent injunction to stop IP theft
when a patent has been proven valid and infringed, which
will in turn protect inventors' right to determine who can
use their patented inventions and encourage investments in
innovation that support U.S. technological leadership.
The PREVAIL Act, which passed the Senate Judiciary
Committee in November, will help make the PTAB process more
fair for inventors by protecting them from harassment by
Big Tech and others who violate their IP rights.
PERA will clarify categories of inventions that are
eligible to receive patents, restoring needed certainty and
predictability for American innovators and investors and
ensuring the United States avoids ceding leadership in key
technologies like AI to our foreign adversaries and
competitors.
Working to ensure agencies across the government recognize
the critical importance of R&D leadership and IP to U.S.
national security and economic competitiveness, and that policy
decisions balance the need to impose restrictions on foreign
adversaries with the need to promote U.S. innovation in key
areas like antitrust, export controls, and trade.
Ensuring the USPTO has the resources it needs to issue
patents that promote U.S. technology leadership, while right-
sizing parts of the agency, like the PTAB, that undermine this
goal.
Standing up to other countries that abuse their legal
systems to obtain unfair advantage over U.S. innovators.
Ensuring our allies in Europe and around the world respect
strong IP rights as a bulwark against efforts to dominate
global technology standards and the backbone of global
technology advancement and cooperation.
The confirmation of Howard Lutnick to serve as Secretary of
Commerce will elevate a business leader who understands the importance
of IP in maintaining U.S. global technology leadership. We also believe
he will ensure the appointment of a strong USPTO director with
experience in both innovation policy and managing large complex
organizations to advance these goals.
Thank you for considering our views on the importance of confirming
Mr. Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce to protect U.S. global technology
leadership and strengthen the U.S. patent system as the bedrock of U.S.
innovation.
Sincerely,
Brian Pomper,
Executive Director.
Cc: Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
______
NCTA--The Internet & Television Association
Washington, DC, January 29, 2025
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chair,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
At a time of rapid global change and increasingly complex economic
challenges, the Department of Commerce needs a leader with a dynamic
approach and a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges
facing American businesses and workers. As the nominee for Secretary of
Commerce, Mr. Howard Lutnick is well-positioned to play a critical role
in ensuring the U.S. economy remains competitive, resilient, and ready
to adapt to the demands of a shifting global marketplace.
Mr. Lutnick's impressive track record of success in the private
sector demonstrates his ability to navigate complex systems, foster
innovation, and deliver results. His leadership is poised to strengthen
key industries, enhance American manufacturing, and advance
technological innovation while championing fair and robust
international trade practices.
The position of Secretary of Commerce is one of the most vital
roles in the Federal Government, directly influencing the policies and
initiatives that shape our Nation's economic future. We are confident
that Mr. Lutnick's experience, vision, and dedication will ensure that
the Department continues to lead with purpose and effectiveness and we
urge the Committee's swift consideration of his nomination.
Sincerely,
Michael K. Powell,
President and CEO,
NCTA--The Internet & Television Association.
______
Prepared Statement from Alliance for the Future on the Confirmation of
Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary
The Commerce Secretary plays a crucial role in supporting American
innovation, competitiveness, and efficiency. AI is a top issue in this
portfolio. Howard Lutnick has the experience, leadership, and vision to
ensure that the future of AI goes hand in hand with the return of
American greatness.
In recent years, the Department of Commerce has been used to
amplify AI fears with no basis in fact, hinder American science and
industry, promote DEI, censor the speech of Americans, and unfairly cut
off Americans' financial services because of their politics. Not only
has the department slowed the uptake of AI across all sectors of the
economy, but it has also threatened American national security by
allowing China to challenge American digital leadership.
Howard Lutnick understands the importance of this moment and the
necessity of rescuing American AI policy to build an innovative and
prosperous AI-powered future for the American people.
He has a strong record of technological optimism, including
supporting equal access to banking for cryptocurrency and traditional
financial companies alike, and improving government efficiency. He is
an excellent candidate for Commerce Secretary and Alliance for the
Future supports his confirmation.
______
Public Safety Broadband Technology Association
Public Safety Spectrum Alliance
Las Vegas, NV
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chair,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chair Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell:
The White House recently announced the nomination of Howard Lutnick
to serve as Secretary of Commerce. The Public Safety Broadband
Technology Association (PSBTA) and the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance
(PSSA) strongly support Mr. Lutnick's nomination. Not only does Mr.
Lutnick's strong private sector experience make him an ideal candidate,
but his personal experience related to 9/11 makes him an ideal
selection to understand and support the public safety priorities within
NTIA.
As you know, FirstNet is an independent authority that resides
within NTIA and the Department of Commerce. Having someone who
understands the purpose of FirstNet and the critical need is important
to all first responders across the country. Our association was founded
by those that helped create FirstNet, and we know, better than anyone,
how critical FirstNet is and how important good leadership is to
understanding the FirstNet mission.
As experts in the needs of Public Safety communications and
FirstNet, please accept our strong support for Mr. Lutnick as Secretary
of Commerce.
Sincerely,
Chief Al Gillespie (Ret),
President,
PSBTA.
______
Salem Media Group
Camarillo, CA
Hon. Ted Cruz,
Chairman,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Ranking Member,
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Cruz and Ranking Member Cantwell,
On behalf of Salem Media Group, a leading multimedia company
providing Christian and conservative talk programming to audiences
across the nation, I am writing to express our enthusiastic support for
the nomination of Mr. Howard Lutnick to serve as the next Secretary of
Commerce. Having had the privilege of meeting Mr. Lutnick, I can
personally attest to his exceptional leadership, extensive business
acumen, and genuine commitment to fostering economic growth-qualities
that make him an outstanding choice for this critical role.
Mr. Lutnick's deep understanding of the complexities of global
markets, coupled with his proven ability to foster meaningful public/
private partnerships, positions him uniquely to advance the
Department's mission. At Salem Media Group, we see firsthand how
technological innovation, such as the growth of artificial
intelligence, is reshaping industries. We trust that Mr. Lutnick will
champion policies that drive innovation, promote fair competition, and
bolster America's global competitiveness.
We are confident that Mr. Lutnick will bring a results-oriented,
forward-thinking approach to the Department of Commerce, ensuring it
continues to play a pivotal role in driving economic prosperity and
innovation. I, along with our Chief Executive Officer, David Santrella,
wholeheartedly support his nomination and respectfully urge the
Committee to advance his confirmation without delay.
Thank you for considering our letter of support for Mr. Lutnick.
Sincerely,
Edward G. Atsinger III,
Cofounder/Executive Chairman of the Board,
Salem Media Group.
David P. Santrella,
Chief Executive Officer,
Salem Media Group.
The Chairman. Senators will have until the close of
business on Thursday, January 30, to submit questions for the
record. The nominee will have until the end of the day on
Saturday, February 1, to respond to those questions. And we had
testimony about how hard you would work. So we are giving you a
day.
Mr. Lutnick. I got it.
The Chairman. But we are moving promptly.
That concludes today's hearing. The Committee stands
adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 1:42 p.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Roger Wicker to
Howard Lutnick
Rice's Whale and Environmental Policies
A group of environmental NGOs submitted a petition to the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for a rulemaking to establish a year-
round vessel speed limit and other vessel-related mitigation measures
in the Rice's whale ``core'' habitat area. While NOAA denied the
petition to establish vessel speed measures, they proposed a rule
designating a critical habitat for the Rice's whale with little to no
information on the species' life history or behavior. NOAA has actively
pursued measures for Rice's whale at the expense of communities along
the Gulf of Mexico based on very little conclusive evidence as to the
presence of the Rice's whale in the central and western Gulf of Mexico.
Imposing restrictions on development in the Gulf of Mexico would
directly harm the economic activity and jobs across coastal
communities.
Question 1. It is unacceptable to impose regulations that have no
scientific backing with significant impacts to coastal communities.
Under your leadership as Secretary will you commit to ensuring that
NMFS and NOAA use only science-backed research with strong supporting
data before proposing any rulemaking?
Answer. Yes. Imposing restrictions on development opportunities in
the Gulf of America would have negative implications for economic
activity and job growth. Substantial and conclusive evidence is
necessary to ensure species' life history, behavior and other important
factors are thoroughly considered so as not to needlessly harm coastal
communities and our economy. I look forward to working with your office
on the Rice's Whale issue.
Recreational Fishing & Fisheries Data
The Gulf States took over management of recreational Gulf Red
Snapper fishing in 2017 during President Trump's first term. We have
been impressed with the results posted by each of the Gulf States since
then.
Question 2. Will you continue to support policies from President
Trump's first administration that empower the States' role in marine
fisheries management?
Answer. Yes. On November 5th, the American people made their voices
heard and have worked to manage these fisheries more effectively. I
look forward to working with your office on state management activities
and how these could continue with the Gulf States.
Question 3. Access to public waters is fundamental to any
successful recreational fishery. The Biden Administration sought to
keep America's anglers and boaters off the water. Will you focus on
policies that provide access and opportunity to America's oceans?
Answer. Yes. America's anglers and boaters are an important part of
our economy. I will work to help reduce unnecessary burden for
recreational activities and fishing, including policies that provide
access and opportunity to enjoy America's ocean resources.
Question 4. States are producing excellent fisheries data, yet NOAA
Fisheries continues to use their own opaque data system. Will you
foster policies that broaden the definition of ``Best Scientific
Information Available (BSIA)'' to include data gathered by the States?
Answer. I look forward to learning more about this issue and
working closely with your office on potential policy initiatives.
Seafood Production
Seafood production is a major economic driver in Mississippi,
generating hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs
annually. But the United States imports about 80 percent of the seafood
we eat, and we have a seafood trade deficit of over $20 billion. The
U.S. can and should urgently address this seafood deficit--and that
starts with producing more fresh, healthy, and sustainable seafood at
home through marine aquaculture. NOAA, the largest agency in your
department, oversees and manages our marine fisheries and aquaculture.
NOAA must lead the way in addressing the seafood trade deficit by
expanding our marine aquaculture.
Question 5. Do you commit to addressing the seafood deficit through
the continued growth of marine aquaculture?
Answer. Addressing the U.S. seafood deficit is important for the
ocean economy and global competitiveness. The Department will work on
ways to address this deficit by creating opportunities to increase our
seafood exports, including marine aquaculture production. I look
forward to learning more about this issue and working closely with your
office on possible solutions.
Tech Hubs
The Department of Commerce has the opportunity to grow innovative
markets through the Economic Development Administration's (EDA)
Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) program. This
program focuses on driving regional growth and global competitiveness
through development of critical and emerging technologies by creating
consortia of public, private, and academic partners. My colleagues and
I worked hard to ensure this program was created and remains adequately
funded. Under President Biden, the U.S Commerce Department shifted away
from the Congressional intent of locating new Tech Hubs in
traditionally underrepresented Federal research regions and instead
prioritized awards to existing, already developed programs in
metropolitan statistical areas with ties to organized labor.
Question 6. Will the Department designate more Tech Hubs in 2025,
rather than simply giving more funds to the Tech Hubs designated by the
previous Administration?
Answer. I will work with you and other members of Congress to
ensure that Economic Development Administration Tech Hubs are
thoughtfully distributed throughout the country.
Question 7. What research and commercialization areas will the
Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Administration
prioritize under your leadership?
Answer. I will ensure the Department and the Economic Development
Administration prioritize research and commercialization areas well
suited to boost American economic and job growth.
Oil and Gas Exploration
The Department of Commerce has a potentially significant impact on
offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production
activities. Mississippi is home to the country's 11th largest refinery
which produces about 356,000 barrels of oil a day into downstream
products. One of Mississippi's other facilities is a leading global
manufacturer of naphthenic process oils (used in industrial
applications such as printing inks, transformer oils, and refrigerator
oils).
Question 8. Mississippi's salt caverns storage capability makes it
a major player in the natural gas space--9 of its 10 largest power
plants rely primarily on natural gas. It is also home to one of the
country's largest natural gas processing plants, in addition to an
import terminal. Recently, this facility received approval to export
LNG. How will you ensure that retaliatory tariffs on Natural Gas do not
impact this facility's ability to operate?
Answer. For too long, many countries have limited American
exporters' ability to access their markets, even as the United States
granted their companies unfettered access to the largest market in the
world. I expect that President Trump's trade policies, and his
commitments to deregulation and American energy independence will help
Mississippi's power plants, processing plants, and natural gas
exporters expand their sales and production.
Data Privacy & Artificial Intelligence
Data privacy guidelines have implications for the artificial
intelligence space and other areas of modern innovation. Free market
innovation drives the American economy forward, but there can be no
innovation without entrepreneurs' willingness to take financial risks
on their big ideas.
The current patchwork of state data privacy standards creates
financial and legal burdens for investments in AI and other startups.
Question 9. Will you commit to working with Congress on a unified
data privacy standard that protects consumers while eliminating the
costly patchwork of overlapping and conflicting state laws?
Answer. I will ensure the Department works with Congress on data
privacy standards and provides its expertise and knowledge as needed.
Question 10. Will you commit to aligning NIST's ongoing work with
the Trump administration's vision to ensure the United States remains
dominant in the face of AI competition in other areas of the world?
Answer. Yes.
Trade
Mississippi has several industries and companies that have been
affected by the lack of enforcement of trade laws in countries like
Vietnam, Ecuador, and Venezuela. I am strongly supportive of the
Presidents efforts to address the U.S. trade deficit and unfair trading
practices by our trading partners. We must protect our domestic
producers from who are already operating under increasingly tight
margins.
Question 11. Will you commit to enforcing strong trade laws
including anti-dumping and countervailing duties to protect America
industries? Will you also commit to examining rule of origin provisions
to ensure American companies are not over-taxed on their domestic
operations?
Answer. I commit to enforcing strong trade laws and ensuring
American industries and American workers are fully protected from
foreign actors and unfair trading practices.
European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
The European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
Directive (CS3D) that was recently adopted by the EU, will impose
significant costs on thousands of U.S. companies doing business in
Europe. This comes at a time when U.S. exports of natural gas are
keeping the heat on in Europe this winter because the regulatory
structure there has caused companies to flee. Yet the EU is attempting
to harm the competitive advantages of U.S. companies by forcing them to
comply with CS3D.
Question 12. What will you do as Commerce Secretary to ensure that
the U.S. government delivers the most robust of responses against CS3D
implementation--or implementation of any similar extraterritorial
legislation enacted by a foreign government with implications for U.S.
businesses?
Answer. The CS3D imposes a significant burden on American
corporations. I will consider using all available trade tools at the
Department's disposal, as appropriate, to respond to any actions by
foreign governments, including the EU, that harm the American economy
and impose unreasonable burdens on our companies.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Jerry Moran to
Howard Lutnick
1. Department of Commerce/Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
Can you share more about how your ``direct responsibilities'' over
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will work?
Answer. The statutory responsibilities of USTR remain unchanged.
The Department and USTR will collaborate to ensure a strong America
First trade policy is implemented under President Trump's leadership.
2. International Trade Administration
What will the Department of Commerce and the International Trade
Administration do to prioritize expanding international trade
opportunities for rural businesses and U.S. farmers? How will you work
with ITA to put U.S. businesses in an advantageous position to compete
with Chinese exporters?
Answer. Promoting exports for American companies is a key part of
the America First trade agenda. Rural businesses and farmers form the
backbone of the economy in America's heartland, and I am committed to
expanding access to additional markets for rural businesses and
agricultural producers. In doing so, I will also work with our trading
partners around the world to address subsidized, dumped, and unfairly
traded Chinese exports that limit the opportunities for American
companies and farmers to sell their products into foreign markets.
3. Antidumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD)
The Department of Commerce is charged with ensuring fair trade
through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws. Illegal trade
practices such as dumping or subsidies by foreign governments undermine
our industries and harm America's workers. We have observed that the
demand for antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into
unfairly traded imports drastically increased in the last year and that
the Commerce's work in this space has nearly tripled over the last
decade.
What are your plans to ensure that Commerce has the
resources and tools it needs to rigorously enforce the trade
laws and ensure domestic industries can compete on a level
playing field?
Answer. Antidumping and countervailing duty investigations are
critical to protecting American industry and its workers. I plan to
closely study the resources and tools at the Department's disposal and
work with Congress to ensure the Department has the full capabilities
to enforce trade laws and effectively protect domestic industry.
Have decisions by the Courts hampered Commerce's ability to
enforce antidumping and countervailing duty laws?
Answer. I am committed to ensuring the Department complies with all
court decisions, including those by the Court of International Trade
and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. I am aware of several
decisions remanding determinations by the Department, including with
respect to the application of adverse facts available and particular
market situations.
If yes, how do you plan to work with Congress to address
weakened enforcement due to adverse court rulings?
Answer. Please see prior answer.
What legislative changes would you propose to update the
antidumping and countervailing laws to improve enforcement
efforts?
Answer. I look forward to working with your office on potential
legislative changes that would strengthen and clarify the Department's
authority to impose antidumping and countervailing duties.
4. Section 232 Tariffs
Do you anticipate additional Section 232 tariffs on steel to be
implemented against Mexico or new ones against Canada?
Answer. I understand the Department is currently studying the
current steel tariffs in response to the America First Trade
Memorandum. I cannot prejudge the results of that study or predict how
President Trump may react to its findings.
5. Further Export Control Question
The December 2024 Commerce Department National Security Strategy--
the first of its kind--outlines the state of ``intense global
competition with China'' in emerging technologies like semiconductors
and describes China as supplanting the U.S.'s position in the value
chain for its manufacturing. Your presumptive future colleague, USTR
nominee Jamieson Greer, called for expanding export controls on China
to prevent this, including on semiconductors and advanced technologies
like quantum computing and AI.
What loopholes do you see in our country's current export
controls and how will you ensure robust protection of strategic
goods' IP and products belonging to U.S. companies?
Answer. I am committed to making any necessary changes to prevent
malign actors from exploiting America's innovation ecosystem. I
understand the America First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum
directs the Department to assess these matters and prepare a report to
the President. As I have not been confirmed, I can neither speak to
those efforts nor get ahead of that process. I can say, however, that
these issues are a top priority.
6. Export Control Policies
A major focus of Commerce Department thus far has been disrupting
China's development of artificial intelligence tools. However, we have
seen recent evidence that the steps taken thus far are inadequate. A
Chinese company called DeepSeek has released an AI model that seems to
rival U.S. models and was, according to the company, trained using
less-advanced chips.
This challenges the convention that export controls on advanced
semiconductors will slow Chinese development of cutting-edge AI models.
Will you work with me to determine a path forward on export
controls that adequately addresses China's military
modernization and ability to develop dual use technologies?
Answer. Absolutely. This is a priority I share with you and the
Committee.
In addition to confronting China, export controls are critical to
stemming the flow of sensitive technologies to Iran, which has used
front companies to avoid detection.
If confirmed, what steps will you undertake to stop the flow
of U.S. goods and technology to Iran?
Answer. I intend for strong enforcement of export controls to be a
hallmark of my tenure. The Department's enforcement teams must have the
resources necessary to meet that standard.
7. Global Tariff
In the America First Trade Policy memorandum published by President
Trump, Commerce has been tasked, in consultation with Treasury and
USTR, with investigating use cases of a ``global supplemental tariff.''
Before implementing any new tariffs, will you commit to
carefully analyzing the potential impacts of tariff increases
including consultation with industry?
Answer. Yes. As directed by the President, the Department will play
a coordinating role with its interagency partners and carefully study
this issue before reaching any decisions.
8. Competing Budget Priorities
How do you anticipate balancing the ramp up of the Census and
recapitalization of NOAA weather satellites and aircraft during what
may be a flat budget environment?
Answer. The Department of Commerce will carry out its mandate to
faithfully execute the President's budget subject to Congressional
approval.
9. CHIPS
Several Senators in the hearing--including members of the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation--have recently met with you to
raise concerns on across-the-board tariffs as well as discuss carrying
out the goals outlined in the CHIPS and Science Act.
As Commerce Secretary, what is your approach to the
bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act?
Answer. The Department plays a key role in advancing the Nation's
technological competitiveness in everything from semiconductors to AI,
to increasing the availability of spectrum. I plan to ensure that the
Department continues to make sure that America leads in these key areas
and to oversee the responsibilities of the Department to ensure that
America is in a stronger and more competitive position through our
efforts.
As you think about the CHIPS Program and future initiatives
to bolster U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, do you agree that
it is important for the U.S. to encourage the manufacturing of
all major types of semiconductors in the U.S., including both
logic and memory semiconductors?
Answer. Semiconductors for logic, memory, and other applications
(RF, photonics, etc.) are critical to our daily lives and national
security. Ensuring that the U.S. has robust domestic manufacturing
capacity and supply chains to support these efforts is critical.
Will you ensure the CHIPS program directly supports small
and medium size semiconductor companies, including those
companies in rural parts of the country?
Answer. Yes. The CHIPS program funds large, medium, and small-sized
semiconductor manufacturing and semi-conductor supply chain related
companies across the country. I will ensure that future investments
support companies that advance the economic and national security of
the United States.
Additionally, will you ensure that all parts of the
semiconductor supply chain are supported by the CHIPS program,
including companies engaged in packaging and testing
semiconductors?
Answer. Yes.
10. Promoting Tourism to the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Commerce plays an important role in
supporting tourism through its National Travel and Tourism Office
(NTTO), which is part of the International Trade Administration. By
promoting tourism, the Department helps drive economic growth. The
travel and tourism industry in the U.S. generates significant revenue,
supports millions of jobs, and contributes to local economies.
As Secretary of Commerce, what are your priorities for supporting
travel to and within the United States, especially considering major
upcoming tourism events like the FIFA World Cup in 2026, in which
Kansas City will be a Host City?
Answer. As Secretary of Commerce, I will promote America's cities
and events to the fullest extent. Major events, including the FIFA
World Cup in 2026, provide incredible opportunities to highlight
American spirit and enterprise in places such as Kansas City.
11. The 2027 National Travel and Tourism Strategy
The National Travel and Tourism Strategy is a comprehensive,
government-led initiative developed to promote travel and tourism to
the United States, while also ensuring that the sector supports
economic growth, job creation, and community development. The strategy
aims to strengthen the U.S. tourism industry by addressing challenges
and opportunities, fostering partnerships, and creating a coordinated,
whole-of-government approach to tourism promotion and policy.
The National Travel and Tourism Strategy is issued every five
years, with the next update expected in 2027. In alignment with the
Trump Administration's agenda to promote innovation, will you commit to
addressing in the next National Travel and Tourism Strategy how
emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, can promote
travel and tourism to and within the United States and maximize its
economic benefits to all Americans?
Answer. Yes. I commit to working with the Administration and
Congress to address how emerging technologies can promote travel and
tourism within the United States and benefit all Americans.
12. Refineries
Kansas has three refineries, which combined can process about
408,000 barrels of crude oil per calendar day. The state's refineries
account for about 2 percent of the Nation's refining capacity, and
produce a variety of petroleum products, including diesel fuel, motor
gasoline, and jet fuel. Are you concerned about the ability of these
refineries to produce downstream products in the face of tariffs on
crude imports?
Answer. As President Trump has directed, I am committed to
unleashing American energy and expanding the capability for energy
producers at all steps of the supply chain and refining process to
flourish.
13. Boycotts of Israel
The Commerce Department is responsible for enforcing U.S. anti-
boycott laws, which discourage and, in some circumstances, prohibit
U.S. companies from furthering or supporting the boycott of Israel
fostered or imposed by foreign countries. Unfortunately, we've seen a
surge in foreign boycott activity targeting our ally Israel in the wake
of October 7th.
If confirmed, ensure full enforcement of U.S. anti-boycott
laws and regulations?
Answer. Yes, absolutely.
In dealings with countries that support boycotts of Israel,
will you make it a priority to encourage them to end such
support?
Answer. Yes.
Current anti-boycott laws only apply to unsanctioned foreign
boycotts imposed or fostered by foreign countries. Would you
commit to working with Congress to clarify our anti-boycott
laws to make clear that cooperation with boycotts fostered by
international governmental organizations, like the U.N. Human
Rights Council, is not permitted?
Answer. I will ensure the Department is available to offer
technical assistance with drafting updated legislation.
I am concerned that ESG rating firms are encouraging
boycotts of Israel by downgrading companies doing business in
Israel. Would you be open to having the Office of Anti-Boycott
Compliance look at the issue of ESG rating firms and determine
how Federal anti-boycott statutes may apply to the work of
these firms?
Answer. Yes. I am open to having the Department's Office of Anti-
Boycott Compliance review this issue.
The United States and Israel have long had an important
economic relationship. If confirmed, how will you work to
deepen and expand that relationship?
Answer. The Department has numerous tools at its disposal to
further deepen the country's economic ties to Israel through promotion
of bilateral trade and investment. The Department can also look into
ways for the country's intellectual property and scientific communities
to collaborate further through USPTO and NIST.
14. Abraham Accords
President Trump achieved a historic accomplishment with the 2020
Abraham Accords. The agreements saw normalization between Israel and
some of our regional partners in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords
have vast economic potential that could positively impact the region
and the United States. However, over the past couple of years, efforts
to expand the Abraham Accords have stalled.
As Secretary of Commerce, how would you work to expand and
deepen the economic and trade aspects of the Abraham Accords?
Answer. While the Abraham Accords have many moving parts, what will
strengthen them in the long term is economic normalization, bilateral
trade, and investment. The Department, through its Foreign Commercial
Service, is well-positioned to promote and facilitate the strong
economic ties that will lead to peace and prosperity throughout the
region.
15. Aerospace Supply Chain
The American aerospace sector is a major economic driver in Kansas
and the United States, with the largest trade balance--valued at over
$110 billion--among all U.S. manufacturing sectors. The industry
workforce stands strong with more than 2.21 million, with employees in
every state.
The aerospace industry also outpaced national averages in job
creation and compensation--about 50 percent above the national average
in wages and benefits--while playing a pivotal role in delivering
innovative technology underlying America's national security and
commercial leadership.
What are your plans to bolster the aerospace supply chain
and ensure continued growth of the U.S. aerospace industry and
its highly skilled workforce? How will the Commerce Department
work with other agencies to achieve these goals?
Answer. The aerospace industry relies heavily on exporting, and I
am committed to supporting American companies' ability to access
foreign markets. This includes the Department's participation in the
international aerospace and defense trade shows that provide
opportunities for our aerospace companies to expand their international
sales. Additionally, I am committed to strengthening our supply chains
for all industries and am aware of the need, in particular, to
strengthen our resiliency for supplying critical minerals, which are
essential to the aerospace industry.
16. Fertilizers
The current duties on phosphate mean that our farmers have to
purchase inputs at prices higher than other farmers around the world
but can only receive world market prices for their production.
Are you concerned about ensuring adequate supply of these
fertilizers, and ensuring competitive, reliable markets for this
critical ag input for farmers?
Answer. I am aware of the situation concerning phosphate prices. I
am concerned about all aspects of the American economy, including the
impact of high prices on farmers, and am committed to opening markets
to American exporters on a fair, competitive, and reliable basis.
Will you commit to consulting with the Secretary of Agriculture as
the Department of Commerce considers the long-term impacts on
fertilizer supplies and their impact on U.S. agricultural
competitiveness?
Answer. Yes.
17. Natural Resource Management
Have you been briefed on NOAA's protected resource
responsibilities, which have tremendous impact on ocean industries
including fishing (e.g., Maine's lobster industry), and offshore energy
production?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will have briefings to learn more
about NOAA's protected resource responsibilities and the impact they
have on ocean industries and offshore energy production.
Given the terrible drought facing many Kansan farmers, what
investments should NOAA make to better forecast seasonal
weather to improve water management for our agricultural
sector?
Answer. NOAA will prioritize American farmers with its investments
in better seasonal weather forecasts for agricultural water management.
18. Forecasting
NOAA plays an important role in providing life-saving forecasts
during extreme weather in my state, as well as seasonal forecasts that
farmers and ranchers in Kansas use to manage their water resources.
Given the advancements in AI and computational sciences--are
you aware of opportunities for NOAA to leverage private sector
resources to get more value out of our weather data to: a)
protect Americans from severe storms and, b) help farmers and
ranchers better manage their water resources?
Answer. Yes. I look forward to learning more about this topic and
working closely with your office.
19. Space Commerce
The Department's Office of Space Commerce has the important role of
``foster[ing] the conditions for the economic growth and technological
advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry.''
Under your supervision, how will you organize the Department
to enable the robust growth of our innovative commercial space
ecosystem?
Answer. The Department will enable robust growth of our commercial
space ecosystem by ensuring that our leading domestic space industry is
not hampered by overly burdensome regulations and has the full support
of the Administration to ensure American leadership in space continues.
20. Unified Federal Data Privacy Standard
Given the interconnected nature of commerce today, many small
businesses face compliance hurdles under our patchwork of more than 20
separate U.S. privacy laws. Different state laws also create confusion
for consumers.
As Commerce Secretary, will you work with Congress on a
unified data privacy standard to protect consumers that
provides strong protections to Americans and certainty to small
businesses?
Answer. Yes. I am committed to working with Congress on data
privacy standards and making available the Department's knowledge and
expertise as needed.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tim Sheehy to
Howard Lutnick
Question 1. Montana's Headwaters is one of 31 nationwide leading on
next-generation technology. It connects entrepreneurs across the state
and supports good jobs, but it also competes in a national and global
technological race with foreign adversaries. Will you commit to
continuing support for Tech Hubs?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. Semiconductor export controls have sometimes harmed
American companies, including in Montana, and helped foreign entities,
jeopardizing our technological leadership. Will you review
semiconductor export control rules to ensure that American companies
are the ones benefiting?
Answer. Yes. I will keep in mind all industries and their important
trading relationships as I work with President Trump to strengthen our
economy and unleash American energy.
Question 3. A NOAA report on rebuilding Columbia Basin salmon
created a new ``harvest'' recovery standard. This standard is an
unworkable excuse for dam removal and impacts Montana farmers and co-
ops. Will you commit to working with stakeholders to ensure appropriate
scientific standards?
Answer. NOAA's work should follow a rigorous application of the
scientific method.
Question 4. Refineries in Montana need Canadian crude for diesel
that is critical to our farmers, ranchers, and truckers. As you
continue to engage other countries on trade issues, will you keep in
mind the importance of Canadian crude to states like Montana?
Answer. Yes.
Question 5. President Trump is setting a new path for American
energy abundance. Will you work to ensure the fair treatment of
American electricity generators by Canadian energy authorities so that
U.S. energy can access valuable markets?
Answer. Absolutely.
Question 6. The global technology race is more expansive than
semiconductor chips. U.S. companies, including those in Montana, need
support for multiple forms of advanced technology. Will you work to
make support initiatives available for more technologies that may not
fall under existing Federal opportunities?
Answer. As directed by the Export Control Reform Act, the
Department will constantly examine critical and emerging technologies
that may require unilateral or multilateral controls. I look forward to
working with your office to identify any areas of particular concern to
you and your constituents.
Question 7. Sawmills in Montana are subject to unfair competition
from Canada. Will you prioritize effective enforcement of antidumping
and countervailing duty laws, and will you hold unfair actors and
practices accountable?
Answer. Yes.
Question 8. Some states have excess BEAD funding, some of which is
``non-deployment'' funding for social and DEI policies. Other states
like Montana have infrastructure needs but no excess funding. Will you
reconsider the use of ``non-deployment'' funds and review BEAD's
funding allocation framework?
Answer. Yes. I plan to closely review BEAD funding and ensure
thoughtful consideration is provided to all states.
Question 9. The GSP trade program helps allies and improves supply
chain resilience for critical Montana industries. Will you support GSP
reauthorization?
Answer. While Congress is the ultimate decision maker on GSP
authorization, I look forward to consulting with you as Congress
considers the future of the program.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Dan Sullivan to
Howard Lutnick
Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act:
Salmon is a way of life in Alaska and a primary food source for
many in the state. Fisheries closures and depressed stocks shake the
foundation of our daily lives.
Luckily, you've got a basis to work on. My Alaska Salmon Research
Task Force Act was signed into law in 2022 and had NOAA collaborate
with salmon experts in Alaska to chart a path forward to research why
we are seeing such decreased abundance of salmon.
The report was released last summer with suggestions of discrete,
meaningful research projects that we can undertake to get to the bottom
of this issue.
Question 1. Mr. Lutnick, can you commit to working with me to
prioritize and build upon the work we have started to better understand
why our salmon runs are decreasing in Alaska?
Answer. Yes. This is an important issue that I plan to learn more
about, and I look forward to working with you on this matter.
Consultation:
Mr. Lutnick, the previous administration had a history of taking
unilateral executive actions that affected our state--to my count 70--
executive orders and actions that affected Alaska. On the vast majority
of those, our Congressional delegation nor our state were consulted.
Question 2. Can you commit to consulting with our office before
your agency takes any action that would directly affect my state and my
constituents?
Answer. Yes. I commit to working with your office on any Alaska-
related issues.
Marine Monuments/Sanctuaries:
President Biden's Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate
Crisis at Home and Abroad, including his `30 x 30' goal of conserving
at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, and other
subsequent Executive Orders to impose fishing restrictions in Marine
National Monuments represented a substantial overreach of authority by
using it to circumvent the Department of Commerce's statutory
authorities to manage U.S. fisheries.
Those actions as well as actions he took with respect to National
Marine Sanctuaries including in his Presidential Memorandum on
Conserving the Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Pacific Remote
Islands, would needlessly contribute to the destruction of U.S.
fisheries that are among the most well managed in the world. Following
that Presidential Memorandum, NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Office's
proposed Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary further
threatens to destroy the tuna fishery-dependent economy of the U.S.
Territory of American Samoa which is vital to U.S. national security
interests in the Indo-Pacific region. I should add that President Biden
also restored Obama-era fishery closures in the Northeast Canyons and
Seamounts Marine National Monument off New England--fishery closures
that President Trump reversed in his first term.
Question 3. Mr. Lutnick, NOAA's management of U.S. fisheries
pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act may not be perfect--and we are
always making improvements to it--but U.S. fishery management under
this statute is by orders of magnitude the most intensive and effective
in the world. No one--not President Biden nor NOAA's Marine Sanctuary
Office--should be able to circumvent this well tested process.
Question 4. Consistent with actions already taken last week by
President Trump to rescind EO 14008 and other Biden executive orders
and administrative actions, can we rely on you, Mr. Lutnick, and your
NOAA Administrator, to work further with the White House to withdraw
and/or reverse any other administrative actions including unilateral
closures to U.S. fisheries in Marine National Monuments or National
Marine Sanctuaries that are harmful to our well managed U.S. fisheries?
Answer. Yes. I will work with the White House on the administrative
actions needed to reduce burdens on fishermen and well-managed
fisheries.
Permitting:
As you know, Federal permitting and other approvals or requirements
placed on infrastructure and energy projects has become increasingly
lengthy and expensive. We have also seen mid-level Federal employees
able to use these various approvals to increase the cost or totally
kill important projects that support our economy and wellbeing of the
American people based on ideology rather than the law and facts on the
ground. Unfortunately, the National Marine Fisheries Service within the
Department of Commerce is one of the agencies that I've seen abuse its
authorities to stall projects or place such costly conditions on them
that it doesn't make sense to build. As we all work to efficiently and
affordably develop infrastructure and energy resources, it is essential
that these regulatory agencies have significant political oversight to
ensure there is accountability to the American people.
Question 5. Will you commit to working with me to make sure the
Department takes steps to insert more common sense and objectivity when
implementing environmental regulations under its jurisdiction?
Answer. Yes. The country needs NOAA's regulations to follow good
science and be supported by scientifically accurate findings.
Technology:
Data and technology are critical drivers of our Nation's economy,
and I commend this administration for its focus on unleashing
technology and innovation. As Alaskans know firsthand, nowhere is this
more important than in our coasts and oceans. Alaska, with its vast
coastline and vital maritime industries, faces significant challenges
due to under-mapped coastlines and seafloors, which increase risks for
shipping and fishing while limiting opportunities to fully utilize this
immense resource. Addressing these gaps with better, faster, and more
cost-effective technologies is essential for unlocking economic
potential, securing maritime borders, and protecting lives and
livelihoods.
Question 6. As Secretary of Commerce, will you commit to empowering
NOAA to continue its important work in ocean data collection and
accelerate the deployment of innovative marine technologies to enhance
economic growth, maritime safety, and national security?
Answer. Yes. The work NOAA does is very important and should
continue.
Russian Seafood Reciprocity:
Russia has banned U.S. seafood from its markets since 2014.
However, for many years, Russia was not subject to any special import
duties in the U.S. Meanwhile, Russia has drastically increased seafood
production since 2022 and is openly working to flood both U.S. and
global markets with cheap seafood to push out U.S. product.
All the while, our hardworking fishermen could not export a single
fish to Russia. For nearly 10 years we allowed them to do this and for
years, I advocated to address this asymmetrical and very unfair trade
relationship. I was finally successful in getting the previous
Administration to issue a couple of executive orders to put a stop to
this and restore reciprocity. If we can't enter the Russian market,
they shouldn't be able to flood ours.
EO 14068 in 2022 banned imports of Russian seafood. However, Russia
found a loophole by laundering their seafood through China to
circumvent the ban. EO 14114 in 2023 closed this loophole and made it
abundantly clear than any seafood harvested in Russia is banned from
import into the U.S.--even if it goes through processing in another
country.
Russia is our biggest competitor in a lot of the seafood market,
and just like China, they don't play fair.
Question 7. Mr. Lutnick, will you commit to keeping these
reciprocal executive orders--EO 14068 and EO 14114--in place? They are
critical to keeping our seafood trade fair.
Answer. I am fully committed to protecting Alaskan fishermen from
unfair trade practices and will work with your office on best
approaches to achieve our shared goals.
Alaska Seafood Industry Roundtable:
Mr. Lutnick, I cannot overemphasize how dire the situation for our
seafood industry currently is. We are in serious decline and have lost
over $4 billion in revenue in just the last few years. Much of this
comes down to poor trade deals and our competitors not playing fair.
There is extensive reporting on why we are struggling to compete.
Russia, at a government level, has made it a goal to push American
producers out of the market. They are heavily subsidizing their fishing
industry and their sustainability record pales in comparison to the
United States' gold standard. China is even worse. Illegal, unreported,
and unregulated (IUU) fishing runs rampant in the Chinese sector, and
even worse, there are innumerable documented reports of forced labor
within their industry--particularly in processing.
Our hardworking Americans simply cannot compete in the market
against countries who are disregarding our environmental standards and
using forced labor. During the last administration, I organized a
roundtable with our seafood industry leaders and Secretary Raimondo.
During that meeting, Secretary Raimondo committed to working with us to
implement a strategy to:
1. Align G7 nations on economic sanctions against Russian-harvested
seafood;
2. Establish fair terms of trade in global seafood markets;
3. Accelerate fisheries science and management;
4. Incentivize investment in modernizing the U.S. seafood supply
chain; and
5. Fully integrate seafood into domestic food security initiatives.
Question 8. Will you allow me to organize another roundtable for
you so that you can hear firsthand how we can return to being a seafood
powerhouse?
Answer. Yes. I look forward to working with you on this issue.
National Energy Council:
I recognize that the upstream side of LNG and other Alaskan energy
is not directly within your responsibility at the Department of
Commerce, but I want to bring attention to how important your role in
this space is.
As I mentioned earlier, the President's executive orders made it
very clear that we have an energy emergency in this country and that it
is the policy of the United States to avail itself of Alaska's
resources to help overcome this.
A huge part of pulling us out of this energy emergency is going to
be creating strong and fair trade agreements. We saw the disastrous
efforts of the previous administration to block LNG exports, and we
cannot have a repeat of that.
Question 9. The President's newly created National Energy Council
is going to be critical in forming good policy that will unleash our
resources. I think it would be important for you to have a seat on that
Council. Mr. Lutnick, would you be interested in getting onto the
President's National Energy Council?
Answer. I am interested in serving the President in any capacity he
sees fit.
Marine Stewardship Council:
Mr. Lutnick, you may be aware of the London-based Marine
Stewardship Council (MSC). It provides the blue check you might see on
seafood in the grocery store. That blue check is supposed to signify
that the seafood comes from fisheries that adhere to the highest
standards of sustainability and responsible management.
However, the MSC has come under intense scrutiny in recent years
for certifying undeserving seafood products. Most troubling is the
MSC's continuing certification of Russian fisheries. Use of the blue
check on seafood from MSC-certified Russian fisheries generates many
millions of dollars in revenue every year for the MSC. The MSC has
chosen to maintain those certificates despite fatal problems with the
third-party auditing process in Russia and serious and growing problems
with Russian fisheries management.
Question 10. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, will you ensure that the
Federal government provides no direct or indirect support for the MSC's
certification of Russian seafood?
Answer. I commit to working with your office to ensure that
American seafood adheres to the highest standards of sustainability and
responsible management.
China Phase One Agreement:
We all know that China lies and does not follow through on its
promises--what I refer to as promise fatigue. During President Trump's
first term, I worked closely with him and his team on the first phase
of the Economic and Trade Agreement Between the United States of
American and the People's Republic of China. Under that agreement,
China was supposed to double its purchases of American seafood over 4
years, moving from about an $800 million baseline in 2017 and amounting
to about $400 million annually.
For the first two years after the agreement, China's purchases
actually decreased. Four years later, their purchases are still about
7.8 percent below pre-COVID levels. This latest lie from the Chinese
government is dramatically hurting our hardworking American fishermen.
Question 11. Mr. Lutnick, if you end up reengaging on China on this
issue, will you commit to bringing this up and pushing to hold the
Chinese to their end of the agreement?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will ensure the Department takes a
holistic approach in addressing the U.S.-China trading relationship,
including consideration of past practices and behaviors by the Chinese
government. I will work diligently to ensure our trading partners fully
comply with all terms of our agreements.
NMFS in the Department of Commerce:
There is concern among fishermen in the North Pacific about an idea
involving moving NMFS to the Department of the Interior. The first time
I heard this suggestion was 15 years ago from President Obama.
Due to opposition from me and others, that proposal went away. For
better or worse, NMFS has been managing our fisheries for over 50 years
at this point, and the Magnuson-Stevens Act directs the Department of
Commerce to do so.
While I fully support efforts to streamline our agencies to more
efficiently serve the American people, I want to make sure the people
who have Federal fisheries expertise--and can help us in the trade
world--remain the ones working on the issue.
Question 12. Is it your intention to keep NOAA and the National
Marine Fisheries Service under the Department of Commerce?
Answer. Yes.
FirstNet:
First Responder Network Authority, commonly referred to as
FirstNet, was created in response to the communication failures
experienced by first responders during and after the 9/11 attacks.
Through a unique public-private partnership recommended by the 9/11
Commission and established during the first Trump administration, the
U.S. has built a nationwide, interoperable high-speed wireless network
dedicated to first responders--without relying on taxpayer dollars or
congressional appropriations.
While FirstNet has a service provider under contract through 2042,
the authority for FirstNet expires in 2027. The potential sunset of the
authority puts this public safety network service at risk, and
threatens access to billions in network investments associated with
this public-private partnership.
Question 13. Given FirstNet's proven effectiveness in aiding first
responders during hurricanes, critical incidents like the Butler,
Pennsylvania assassination attempt on President Trump, and other
significant events, will you commit to working with Congress to
reauthorize the FirstNet Authority before it expires?
Answer. Yes. I commit to working with Congress on issues regarding
FirstNet.
Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program/LEOs:
In October, NTIA announced that Alaska will be obligated over $1
billion. I am sure you have seen the criticisms that have been made
that the Biden Administration layered on requirements that are beyond
the law in the BEAD NOFO. I understand that the new Administration will
be reconfiguring the requirements for the BEAD program. I ask that as
Commerce reworks the requirements, that we don't lose pace with
implementation. We have great needs in Alaska with unserved areas.
I want to flag that there is not as much Low Earth Orbit satellite
coverage in Alaska as the rest of the continental U.S. Our constituents
appreciate Starlink in many circumstances, including when there are
service disruptions associated with fiber, but the connection is not
consistent and reliable yet and cannot cover the state with the current
coverage.
Question 14. Starlink may be appropriate for certain remote areas,
but the state still lacks basic connectivity, including middle mile.
Will you assure me that Commerce not rely on Starlink in Alaska as a
solution to all our problems?
Answer. I commit to working with your office on pursuing the most
efficient and effective solutions for Alaskans.
U.S. Leadership in Innovation
The Commerce Department plays a critical role in standing up for
U.S. companies and promoting U.S. technology leadership globally.
American technology innovators are at the forefront of the AI race, and
it's important that we stand up for them against discriminatory
policies from our allies, particularly the European Union, that could
undermine trusted U.S. innovation and infrastructure.
Question 15. As Secretary of Commerce, will you ensure that U.S.
companies are best positioned to continue leading the world in AI and
other emerging technologies?
Answer. Yes. I am committed to not only maintaining, but growing,
U.S. leadership in AI and other emerging technologies.
Iran
One of the most important functions of the Commerce Department,
often overlooked, is the enforcement of U.S. export laws. The
Department plays a key role in preventing the illicit exports of U.S.
technology to Iran, China, Russia and other adversaries. Iran, in
particular, has long sought to acquire sensitive military hardware from
the United States through the use of front companies and other schemes
meant to avoid detection. This problem is highlighted by the drones
Iran is making with American parts that are being used to attack
American personnel and our allies.
Question 16. If confirmed, what steps will you undertake to enforce
U.S. export restrictions and stop the flow of U.S. goods and technology
to Iran?
Answer. I intend for strong enforcement to be a hallmark of my
tenure. Part of that will mean proper resourcing for the Department's
enforcement teams.
Question 17. Will you commit to ensure Iranian-backed entities do
not circumvent U.S. export laws through third-party front companies and
other schemes to avoid detection?
Answer. Yes. Fighting circumvention is critical to the Department's
mission.
Question 18. If confirmed, will you commit to help Middle Eastern
countries crack down on illicit exports to Iran, both exports of
sensitive materials as well as consumer products with U.S. components?
Answer. Yes. International partners are an important part of the
Department's ability to enforce export controls and catch bad actors.
Question 19. If confirmed, what more do you believe can be done to
address illicit Iranian exports to China and Russia, as well as re-
exports to Iran?
Answer. This question will be answered through the America First
Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum. I do not want to get ahead of
this report to President Trump, but rest assured we will take swift and
strong action in due course.
Boycotts of Israel
The Commerce Department is responsible for enforcing U.S. anti-
boycott laws, which discourage and, in some circumstances, prohibit
U.S. companies from furthering the boycott of Israel fostered by
foreign countries. Unfortunately, there has been a surge in foreign
boycott activity targeting Israel in the wake of October 7th.
Question 20. Unfortunately, there has been a surge in foreign
boycott activity targeting Israel in the wake of the October 7th
attacks. If confirmed, will you ensure full enforcement of U.S. anti-
boycott laws and regulations?
Answer. Yes.
Question 21. In your engagements with countries that support
boycotts of Israel, will you make it a priority to encourage them to
end such support?
Answer. Yes.
Question 22. Current U.S. anti-boycott laws only apply to
unsanctioned foreign boycotts imposed or fostered by foreign countries.
Would you commit to working with Congress to clarify our anti-boycott
laws to make explicit that cooperation with boycotts fostered by
international governmental organizations, like the U.N. Human Rights
Council, is not permitted?
Answer. I will ensure the Department is available to offer
technical assistance with drafting updated legislation.
Question 23. I am concerned that Environmental, Social, and
Governance (ESG) rating are encouraging boycotts of Israel by
downgrading companies doing business in Israel.
Would you be open to having the Office of Anti-Boycott Compliance
look at the issue of ESG rating firms and determine how Federal anti-
boycott statutes may apply to the work of these firms--or pressure
imposed by the ESG ratings entities?
Answer. Yes. I am open to having the Department's Office of Anti-
Boycott Compliance review this issue.
Question 24. The United States and Israel have an important,
longstanding economic relationship. If confirmed, will you commit to
work to deepen and expand that relationship?
Answer. The Department has numerous tools at its disposal to even
further deepen our economic ties through promotion of bilateral trade
and investment. The Department can also look into ways for our
intellectual property and scientific communities to collaborate further
through USPTO and NIST.
Abraham Accords:
President Trump achieved a historic accomplishment with the 2020
Abraham Accords. The agreements saw normalization between Israel and
some of our regional partners in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords
have vast economic potential that could positively impact the region
and the United States. However, over the past couple of years, efforts
to expand the Abraham Accords have stalled.
Question 25. As Secretary of Commerce, will you commit to work to
expand and deepen the economic and trade aspects of the Abraham
Accords, and will you seek opportunities to expand the value of
regional cooperation among the United States, Israel and other partners
in the Middle East and North Africa?
Answer. While the Abraham Accords have many moving parts, what will
strengthen them in the long term is economic normalization, bilateral
trade, and investment. The Department, through its Foreign Commercial
Service, is well-positioned to promote and facilitate the strong
economic ties that will lead to peace and prosperity throughout the
region.
Spectrum:
Question 26. The Biden's Administration's so-called National
Spectrum Strategy was an utter failure. All it did was kick the
spectrum can down the road by not identifying a single megahertz of
mid-band spectrum for reallocation for commercial licensed use. Do you
agree that any spectrum strategy adopted by the Commerce Department
during your tenure must actually identify spectrum for reallocation
rather than just study bands without any conclusion?
Answer. I commit to working with agency counterparts to find the
most efficient actions for spectrum opportunities for commercial use.
Question 27. Do you agree that beating China in the global 5G race
is critical to both U.S. national security and economic security?
Answer. Yes, I fully agree.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Todd Young to
Howard Lutnick
Mr. Lutnick, the idea for the CHIPS program originated during
President Trump's first term and we were able to continue that effort
and get the CHIPS & Science Act signed into law a couple years ago.
Since then, we have made great progress implementing the program via
the CHIPS Program Office and taking the first vital steps towards
reshoring and onshoring the semiconductor manufacturing base in the
United States. In fact, we are now the only country that can say it is
home to chip fabs for all five leading-edge semiconductor companies. I
look forward to working with you to continue and--where possible--
improve upon this good work.
Question 1. What are your views on the CHIPS program and will you
commit to honoring existing CHIPS agreements to ensure stability for
this growing industry that is critical to our national security?
Answer. I recognize that semiconductors are essential to our
national security and economic and technological competitiveness. I
look forward to reviewing the investments made to date and working to
ensure that, moving forward, Americans are getting the best deal to
ensure stability for this important industry.
Mr. Lutnick, the Regional Tech Hubs program is another top priority
of mine, and securing additional funding will remain a priority, along
with other important unfunded sections of the ``and Science'' portion
of the bill. To date, the Department of Commerce has designated 31 Tech
Hubs and selected another 29 to receive strategy development grants. Of
the designated Hubs, 18 have received implementation funding so far.
One of those 18--Heartland BioWorks--is aiming to transform Central
Indiana into a global leader in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
Like other tech hubs, they are doing so by leveraging the region's
research institutions, venture ecosystem, logistics infrastructure, and
established manufacturing presence.
Question 2. If confirmed, will you commit to continuing the
Department's support for the Regional Tech Hubs program?
Answer. I recognize the importance of the Tech Hubs program and
look forward to closely reviewing the program and staying in contact
with your office to ensure that the American people are getting the
benefit of the bargain.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ted Budd to
Howard Lutnick
Question 1. Are you concerned that the latest Department of
Commerce AI diffusion interim final rule published on January 13th,
2025--which places export quotas on compute power to 150 nations--could
cede technology leadership and market share for U.S. companies in key
economies, including allies and partners?
Answer. I understand the America First Trade Policy Presidential
Memorandum directs the Department to assess this and other matters and
prepare a report to the President. As I have not been confirmed, I
cannot speak to those efforts. Moreover, I should not get ahead of that
process. These issues are a top priority.
Question 2. Last year de minimis shipments into the U.S. totaled a
record 1.4 billion individual packages mainly from China. There are
concerns that this volume is being used as a work around for Section
301 countervailing duties. Other countries have either closed or are in
the process of closing this loophole.
North Carolina's textile manufacturers are being undermined in
particular, as de minimis has contributed to 26 textile plant closures
in the past 18 months. Will President Trump consider taking executive
action to close this loophole?
Answer. I cannot speak for President Trump. I understand the
Department is currently studying these issues pursuant to the America
First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum.
Question 3. Have you reviewed the EU Deforestation-free Regulation
and are you aware of the very prescriptive reporting requirements this
regulation will impose on the American forest products industry with no
benefit to meeting the intent of the regulation?
Answer. I am aware of the strict reporting requirements of the EU
Deforestation-free Regulation and the prescriptive reporting
requirements it will impose on the American forest products industry.
Question 4. To that end, do you believe this regulation and the
technical trade barriers it poses for United States industry,
particularly when you think about the number of small, private,
landowners in the United States compared to countries in the EU and
countries like China, rise to the level of what President Trump's
America First Trade Policy Executive order asked for in terms of
reports, reviews and investigations?
Answer. I am concerned about the technical barriers to trade posed
by the EUDR and its impact on the American forest products industry.
Upon confirmation, I will direct my staff to review the impact of the
EUDR as part of the reports and reviews the Department will conduct
pursuant to the President Trump's America First Trade Policy
Presidential Memorandum.
Question 5. EUDR has a risk component to it--requiring the EU
government to perform a risk assessment of all countries shipping
products into the EU to establish them as Low, Medium, or High risk of
deforestation.
a. The United States is by far the gold standard across the entire
world for forest management and responsible fiber sourcing. The EU's
own studies show this, as well as third-party certifications throughout
the world. Yet, the EU has an opportunity to pick winners and losers
based on this assessment. Do you think the United States should be
identified as a low-risk country for deforestation and if so, shouldn't
these complex requirements be dropped for the U.S. if they are indeed
low risk?
Answer. Given our strong anti-deforestation measures in the United
States, I do believe that exports from the United States should be
considered low-risk and would support efforts to reduce complex
requirements.
Question 6. How can the U.S. forest products industry engage with
your department and your team to bring more detail to light on this
problematic regulation and ensure that Europe's green deal politics are
not further harming American businesses?
Answer. The Department of Commerce should engage with the U.S.
forest products industry. Upon confirmation, I will welcome additional
insights from the industry about any problems posed by the EUDR and
other foreign policies and regulations.
Question 7. In 2022 the Mexican army invaded and shut down Vulcan's
world class operations and in September the Government expropriated
their property--the Biden administration did hardly anything to stand
up for the blatant mistreatment of an American company that was
supplying building materials to the U.S.
I have been working with my colleagues here in the Senate to ensure
Mexico faces consequences for their egregious actions. Mr. Lutnick,
could you explain how Mexico's actions toward companies like Vulcan
harm our trade relationship and outline steps you could take as
Secretary to pressure Mexico to stop this harmful behavior?
Answer. I will stand up for American companies whenever improper
actions are taken against them by foreign governments. I look forward
to working with you to address this particular situation.
Question 8. Last year, the European Parliament and Council approved
a ``Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive,'' commonly known
now as ``CS3D.'' It's another example of Europe's long tradition of
left-wing regulatory overreach--but one that carries severe
implications in seeking to level the playing field for European
businesses competing with U.S. businesses and others around the world.
It forces some stringent requirements on U.S. businesses. Are you
familiar with the EU's CS3D law?
Answer. Yes, I am familiar with the Corporate Sustainability Due
Diligence Directive.
Question 9. How would you, in your position as Commerce Secretary,
engage with your counterparts in Europe on CS3D? The Biden
Administration did practically nothing--effectively ceding legislative
and regulatory authority to European bureaucrats. What can the Commerce
Department in the Trump Administration do to oppose this sort of
intrusive, extraterritorial regulatory scheme that will harm U.S.
businesses in the pursuit of European ESG policies?
Answer. The CS3D is a serious concern for American industry and the
American economy. The Department and its interagency partners have a
wide range of trade tools at their disposal to address unfair and
unreasonable trade practices, and I look forward to working with you to
find practicable solutions.
Question 10. The European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due
Diligence Directive (CS3D) that was recently adopted by the EU, will
impose significant costs on thousands of U.S. companies doing business
in Europe. This comes at a time when U.S. exports of natural gas are
keeping the heat on in Europe this winter because the regulatory
structure there has caused companies to flee. Yet the EU is attempting
to harm the competitive advantages of U.S. companies by forcing them to
comply with CS3D. What will you do as Commerce Secretary to ensure that
the U.S. government delivers the most robust of responses against CS3D
implementation--or implementation of any similar extraterritorial
legislation enacted by a foreign government with implications for U.S.
businesses?
Answer. The extensive scope and burdensome regulations in CS3D is a
real concern for American industry and the American economy. I will
support engagement with the EU and consider using all available trade
tools at our disposal, as appropriate, to respond to EU regulations
that harm the American economy and impose unreasonable burdens on our
companies.
Question 11. Will you commit to reviewing the Bureau of Industry
and Security's ``Revision of Firearms License Requirements'' Interim
Final Rule?
Answer. Yes.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Eric Schmitt to
Howard Lutnick
Question 1. The previous administration changed our export policy
on domestically manufactured items that, despite the justification to
the contrary, hurt our allies and cost U.S. manufacturers and exporters
hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Will you commit to reviewing
the Bureau of Industry and Security's ``Revision of Firearms License
Requirements'' Interim Final Rule and revert back to the previous
policy if indeed your findings confirm what I've just told you?
Answer. Yes. Upon confirmation, I will ensure the Department
reviews this policy and takes appropriate action.
Question 2. As Secretary of Commerce, what are your priorities for
supporting travel to and within the United States, especially
considering major upcoming tourism events like the World Cup and other
events in Missouri?
Answer. As Secretary of Commerce, I plan to promote America's
cities and events to the fullest extent. Events, such as the FIFA World
Cup in 2026, provide incredible opportunities to highlight American
spirit and enterprise in places such as Missouri.
I will support efforts to promote tourism and travel to the United
States, including by supporting key industries, such as the aerospace
industry and our services industries, that are essential to these
efforts. I am also fully supportive of President Trump's efforts to
make America safe, which will support travel and tourism.
Question 3. The European Union's Corporate Sustainability Due
Diligence Directive (CS3D) which was recently adopted by the EU, will
impose significant costs on thousands of U.S. companies doing business
in Europe. This is a classic example of government overreach that
essentially allows the EU to regulate U.S. companies by imposing high
fines on companies and supply chains not located in Europe.
Will you commit to ensuring that U.S. companies are not
regulated by Europe with unrealistic directives like CS3D?
Answer. I will support engagement with our EU colleagues and
consider using all available trade tools, as needed, to respond to the
EU's regulations that harm the American economy.
When it comes to global bodies like the EU imposing costly
regulations on U.S.-based companies, what role should American
officials play?
Answer. American officials should consider using all available
trade tools, as needed, to respond to the EU's regulations that harm
the American economy.
Would you support legislation or Executive action that would
make it illegal for U.S. companies to comply with this EU
directive?
Answer. I look forward to working on any efforts to prevent overly
burdensome regulations that negatively impact U.S. companies.
Question 4. Unfortunately, Rural America has often been left behind
in economic development initiatives. What steps will you take to ensure
that rural communities, like those in Missouri, benefit from President
Trump's pro-growth policies?
Answer. Rural America has far too often been left behind in
economic development throughout the history of our country. Upon
confirmation, I will prioritize rural communities. I plan to work with
your office and other members of Congress to ensure that President
Trump's pro-growth agenda directly benefits these communities and
allows them to flourish.
Question 5. Missouri is home to key semiconductor facilities like
MEMC and Brewer Science, with MEMC investing $300 million in its new
semiconductor plant. Will you commit to visiting my home state with me
and working to expand Missouri's role in AI, quantum computing, and
other advanced technologies?
Answer. Yes. I commit to visiting Missouri with you and working
with you to expand Missouri's role in AI, quantum computing, and other
advanced technologies.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Shelley Moore Capito to
Howard Lutnick
WV's BEAD Status
In our December meeting, we discussed the BEAD program. It is
critical for getting broadband access to over 98,000 locations that are
currently unserved.
My state has jumped through all the hoops and done everything right
from the start, and now they are on the cusp of getting $1.2 billion
this spring and finally having shovels in the ground.
I think the Biden Administration added a lot of nonsense that
Congress did not intend to the program--like labor requirements and
strict financial requirements--this red tape is why 3 years after it
became law not a single location has been connected yet.
I am supportive of changes that would increase the flexibility of
these dollars to make broadband deployment faster and easier for states
like mine, but I DO NOT want West Virginia's 3 years of hard work to be
wasted, if they have to start over at square 1 under changes that your
department could make.
Question 1. Can you commit to me that any changes your Department
makes to the BEAD program will only make it easier to get West
Virginians connected going forward with this money?
Answer. The BEAD program should operate efficiently and effectively
to allow West Virginians and all Americans to get the benefit of the
bargain that Congress intended. Upon confirmation, I will focus on this
key objective.
Canada Trade
February 1 is approaching--a deadline President Trump has mentioned
for imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico. During President
Trump's first term, he and his administration negotiated the successful
implementation of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA)
which resulted in China falling to the U.S.'s number three trade
partner behind both of our North American neighbors. West Virginia's
number one export market is Canada now.
While there are aspects of USMCA and trade policies with our North
American trade partners that need to be addressed, I am concerned about
the effect potential blanket tariffs will have on my State's economy.
For example, West Virginia is home to a Toyota plant in Buffalo,
that manufactures combined engines and transmissions which are then
sent to Canada for production.
412,000 vehicles imported from Canada to the U.S. include the West
Virginia manufactured engines. You have highlighted that the
Administration won't raise prices on products made in the United
States.
Question 2. Do you agree that tariffs placed on foreign goods may
also encompass components of those goods that are manufactured in the
United States including a potential decrease of West Virginia-made
exports?
Answer. USMCA enjoyed broad bipartisan support in Congress.
Automobiles and automobile parts are a critical part of this agreement,
which ultimately has to work for American manufacturing and American
workers. Upon confirmation, I look forward to working with you and your
staff on these issues.
West Virginia Economic Development Representative
I strongly support the Economic Development Administration's (EDA)
effort to promote access to its economic development assistance
programs through the use of Economic Development Representatives (EDRs)
in under-resourced communities. West Virginia previously had a
dedicated West Virginia based EDR whose efforts made a tremendous
impact in my state, but who retired in 2024. EDA assured me of their
commitment to fill this vacancy and was in the process of filling it.
President Trump issued a ``Hiring Freeze'' Presidential Memorandum that
applies to vacant positions if an offer was not made before January 20,
2025 and had a start date on or before February 8, 2025, resulting in
the remaining vacancy for this critical position to my state.
Question 3. Can you commit to filling this position as quickly as
possible?
Answer. I commit to working with your office on this issue.
West Virginia Tech Hub
The Tech Hubs Program, created by the bipartisan CHIPS-Plus Act, is
a two-phase competition that provides direct investment to
geographically diverse regions to drive regional technology-and
innovation-centric growth by strengthening a region's capacity to
manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies. The
program requires that at least one-third of Tech Hub grants and
designations must ``significantly benefit a small and rural
community''.
In 2023, West Virginia submitted three applications for a Tech Hub
but was not awarded a Phase 1 designation. One of the applicants, WV
Tech Strategy Development Consortium in Charleston, WV received a
planning grant that concludes in April and the Consortium has worked
diligently to create a stronger application for the program. The
consortium is well suited to further the Tech Hub program's mission.
Question 4. If this program is reauthorized, will you commit to
making improvements to prioritize rural applicants, including for the
West Virginia Digital Identity Tech Hub?
Answer. I recognize the importance of rural America and how these
regions have not been fairly treated in the past. I commit to working
with your office to ensure rural applicants receive thoughtful
consideration.
Tech Company Fairness
President Trump's ``America First'' policies emphasize protecting
American economic interests and ensuring fair treatment of U.S.
companies in the global marketplace.
I am increasingly concerned with efforts by some of America's
closest allies, particularly the European Union, to enact digital
policies that target the most innovative U.S. tech companies.
Question 5. As Secretary of Commerce, would you work to ensure
American companies are treated fairly and that we continue to lead the
world in innovation?
Answer. Yes.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to
Howard Lutnick
AI Export Controls. American national security and competitiveness
depend on having AI export controls in place that protect our country
and can be fully implemented by the private sector. The U.S. Department
of Commerce must closely coordinate with the U.S. private sector and
U.S. Allies.
Question 1. How will you ensure we get export controls on AI right
and are focused on the most current threats?
Answer. The America First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum
directs the Department to assess this and other matters and prepare a
report to the President. As I have not been confirmed, I cannot speak
to those efforts. These issues are a top priority for me.
Question 2. Are you reviewing the Biden administration's AI export
control rule as part of the larger review of export control regimes and
how will you take stakeholder inputs received during the current 120-
day public comment period into account?
Answer. The America First Trade Policy Presidential Memorandum
directs the Department to assess this issue and other matters and
prepare a report to the President. Upon confirmation, I will take
appropriate action in due course.
Question 3. What do you anticipate will happen with this AI export
control rule?
Answer. As I have not been confirmed, I am not in a position to
predict the outcome of this rule.
Question 4. Mr. Lutnick, former Secretary Raimondo said last year
that the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the agency responsible
for implementing and enforcing export controls, has the same budget
that it did a decade ago, despite having twice as many licensing
requests. Do you believe that BIS needs more resources to improve fair
and transparent export control enforcement?
Answer. President Donald J. Trump consistently requested increased
funding for BIS during his first four years in the Presidential Budget.
Proper resourcing is critical to our export control and enforcement
regime. I look forward to working with Congress to determine the
appropriate level of funding to ensure BIS can execute its mission.
CHIPS Program Research & Development. In addition to the CHIPS
Incentives Program, Congress created several programs funded by the $11
billion CHIPS and Science appropriation provided to NIST to ensure U.S.
leadership in semiconductor R&D, and to develop the workforce required
to domestically manufacture legacy, advanced, and next-generation
semiconductors.
Question 5. Do you support continuing NIST programs focused on
semiconductor R&D and workforce initiatives to maintain United States
leadership in lab to market microelectronics innovation?
Answer. Research and development are critical to any technological
leadership. I look forward to working with and reviewing the
semiconductor R&D teams and programs at NIST to ensure that they can
most effectively support continued innovation and advancement in
microelectronics.
Economic Development Administration (EDA)/Tech Hubs. The Economic
Development Administration (EDA) is charged with investing in local
communities to encourage and enable growth and innovation in the
private sector, with particular focus on distressed or underserved
areas. One of the investments currently managed by EDA is the Tech Hubs
program, established by the CHIPS and Science Act, which represents a
historic opportunity to strengthen American technological leadership
and create thousands of high-paying jobs across the country. Project
2025 proposes to abolish the EDA and reallocate its funding to other
overlapping Federal grant programs.
Question 6. Do you agree with this recommendation? If so, how will
you and the Administration meet the Congressional intent of the Chips
and Science Act to administer a Tech Hubs program that is vital to
economic and national security and has already awarded grants to 18 of
31 designated regional tech hubs?
Answer. In meeting with Members of the Committee, I have learned
the important role that Tech Hubs play in boosting American technology
leadership. Upon confirmation, I will review the Tech Hubs program to
ensure that it operates in the most efficient and effective manner
possible.
Project 2025 Recommendation Regarding NIST Manufacturing Extension
Partnership Program. CHIPS and Science increased funding for our
successful Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which
works with small manufacturing companies to assist small-and medium-
sized manufacturers by supporting workforce training and supply chain
resiliency. Washington's own MEP Center, IMPACT Washington, has helped
over 1,500 small businesses create and retain over 15,000 jobs, and has
saved these businesses over $286 million since its establishment in
1997. In Project 2025, the authors propose zeroing out this program and
privatizing existing centers.
Question 7. Do you believe in privatizing the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership program and eliminating Federal funding?
Answer. I appreciate the valuable work the MEP program has done to
advance American manufacturing. As with any program, I will review the
MEP closely to ensure that it is operating efficiently and effectively.
NIST/AI and Quantum. The Commerce Department plays a prominent role
in advancing critical and emerging technologies such as artificial
intelligence, quantum, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology
through investing in fundamental research and development (``R&D'') at
agencies like NIST, NTIA, and NOAA, as well as developing global
technology standards through the U.S. AI Safety Institute at NIST. Last
year, I introduced the Future of AI Innovation Act with Senator Young
and some of my other colleagues that would ensure that the U.S. leads
on AI reliability and transparency, as well as mitigating potential
national security risks from AI, by authorizing this AI Safety
Institute. I also introduced the National Quantum Initiative
Reauthorization, where NIST plays a leading role in advancing the U.S.
in the global race for quantum technology.
Question 8. Will you prioritize the development of quantum
technology at the Department of Commerce? Will you support my National
Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act?
Answer. U.S. leadership on quantum technology is vital to our
national and economic security. Upon confirmation, I will review your
National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, and I commit to
working with you and your staff on this important goal.
Question 9. Will you support continued focus by NIST on promotion
of AI standards and developing testing for AI reliability and safety?
Will you work with me, Senator Young, and Chair Cruz as we consider
legislation to authorize the work that needs to continue to be done in
this area?
Answer. I believe that NIST should ensure American leadership on AI
standards. I commit to working with you, Senator Young, and Chairman
Cruz as you consider legislation.
Office of Space Commerce. The Office of Space Commerce is currently
within NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information
Service (NESDIS). Project 2025 suggests returning OSC to the Office of
the Secretary, where it began decades ago, and directing the Office,
working with the National Space Council, to establish a whole-of-
government policy for licensing and oversight of commercial space
operations. At the end of last year, the Senate passed legislation that
would elevate the Office to an independent bureau within the
department, and consistent with policy established in the first Trump
Administration, granted the office legal responsibility for providing
basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and services to civil and
private space operators.
Question 10. Do you support elevating the Office of Space Commerce
within DOC?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to reviewing OSC's
mission and position within the Department and receiving your input.
Question 11. Do you believe this would strengthen the global
competitiveness of the U.S. space industry?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will make the global competitiveness
of the U.S. space industry a distinct priority.
Question 12. If elevated, how would you allocate resources and set
priorities to enable the Office of Space Commerce to effectively
oversee and promote commercial space activities and provide basic space
situational awareness (SSA) capability?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to reviewing OSC's
mission and position within the Department and receiving your input.
Workforce Development: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
initiatives have been integral to fostering inclusive workplaces within
Federal agencies. However, recent executive actions have mandated the
termination of DEI programs within Federal agencies, placing associated
staff on paid leave and reversing efforts aimed at diversifying the
Federal workforce.
Question 13. Considering these developments, how do you plan to
advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Department of
Commerce and create a more inclusive workplace?
Answer. Upon confirmation, one of my priorities will be to ensure
that the Department's workforce is the envy of the world. In advancing
that mission, I will follow President Donald J. Trump's executive
orders to the fullest extent of the law.
Importance of MBDA. Mr. Lutnick, you sign the annual reports (10-
Ks) for Newmark Group, where you serve as Executive Chairman and where
according to the 2023 10-K, you spent 33 percent of your time. The 2023
10-K describes Newmark Group's commitment to diversity and inclusion,
noting that Newmark is committed to policies that ``seek to further our
development of a diverse and inclusive workplace''. The 10-K further
notes that Newmark Group is an investor in a minority-owned business
enterprise, E Smith Advisors.
Question 14. Mr. Lutnick, as Secretary of Commerce, will you commit
to supporting and sustaining the Minority Business Development Agency
to support minority-owned businesses, particularly those who have faced
obstacles accessing credit?
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues. Growing all American businesses--small, medium, and
large--is among my top goals. Upon confirmation, I will review how the
MBDA can meet its mission in the most efficient and effective manner
possible.
Pebble Mine. The Pebble Mine has been a major concern of this
office for many years because of its risk to the Bristol Bay fishery.
The last three Administrations have denied it a permit or vetoed it.
All major mining companies have abandoned it. From 2017 to 2020, Cantor
was lead underwriter for the project until it withdrew and discontinued
review coverage for the project.
Question 15. As Secretary of Commerce, would you recognize NOAA's
important role in upholding the current status under EPA's 404(c)
protection? Will you commit to recuse yourself if it once again comes
up for review by NOAA?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 16. Will you recuse yourself from all matters relating to
consultations and permitting of the Pebble Project, also known as the
Pebble Mine? Additionally, will you recuse yourself from NOAA
permitting of support projects related to the Pebble Projects, such as
NOAA Fisheries consultations for roads, bridges, ports, and other
infrastructure?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
NTIA/Funding Commitments. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act of 2021 appropriated over $65 billion for broadband
deployment and digital literacy programs overseen by NTIA and the
Department of Commerce, including $42 billion for the Broadband Equity
Access and Deployment program, $1.23 billion of which was allocated to
Washington state to connect households to broadband. Allocations of
funding for the BEAD program, committed under the law, also include
$3.3 billion allocated to Texas, $405 million allocated to Nebraska,
$1.2 billion allocated to West Virginia, and over $1 billion allocated
to Alaska. Other NTIA broadband programs have already finalized grants,
connected thousands of households, and laid thousands of miles of
fiber. Needless to say, the commitment that Congress made to reach the
goal of connecting unserved and underserved households is well
underway, with plans in all 56 states and territories approved by NTIA,
in compliance with the law.
Question 17. Mr. Lutnick, will you commit to following the law and
implementing all broadband funding as Congress intended?
Answer. I will follow the law. Upon confirmation, I will review
broadband programs closely to ensure that they are operating
efficiently and effectively.
Question 18. Do you support efforts to bring broadband connectivity
to households across the country?
Answer. I support efforts to expand broadband connectivity
efficiently and effectively.
Question 19. Will you commit to allowing the efforts to implement
programs from the IIJA to continue as they are, and allowing states to
proceed with implementation of these programs with the grant
allocations as they currently stand?
Answer. I will follow the law. Upon confirmation, I will review
broadband programs closely to ensure that they are operating
efficiently and effectively.
Question 20. Will you commit to consulting with and relying upon
the expertise of the public servants at the Department of Commerce, as
well as a diverse range of experts, stakeholders, and state and Tribal
governments, rather than business interests that may, in reality or
appearance, present conflicts of interest?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will ensure the Department engages
with domestic stakeholders who may be impacted by its programs.
Spectrum Management. The Department of Commerce, through NTIA, is
tasked with representing the United States' spectrum interests
internationally. We have seen China's growth in spectrum use not only
threaten the U.S. economically, but China also raises national security
concerns. U.S. representation at the International Telecommunications
Union and World Radio Conference are important fora to advance American
interests in spectrum management and combat national security threats
from China.
Question 21. Mr. Lutnick, do you support a modernized approach on
Federal spectrum policy that protects our communications networks
against foreign adversaries?
Answer. Yes.
Question 22. Will you commit to collaborating on a spectrum policy
that engages stakeholders from the Department of Commerce, the
Department of Defense, the Federal Communications Commission, and
industry, to work towards resolution to restore U.S. leadership in
innovation?
Answer. I will ensure the Department engages with stakeholders,
including government agencies and industry, who may be impacted by its
programs.
Question 23. Will you commit to representing U.S. spectrum
interests on the international stage to address concerns about China's
spectrum use?
Answer. Yes.
National Spectrum Strategy. In November 2023, the Biden
Administration released the National Spectrum Strategy (NSS) that
identifies over 2,700 megahertz of spectrum across five bands for study
to determine the possibility of new, commercial uses. The NSS includes
over 1,600 megahertz of midband spectrum, a range in high demand for
next-generation wireless services. In the 118th Congress I led the
effort to codify the NSS and a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
between the FCC and NTIA on spectrum coordination--the Spectrum and
National Security Act. The final version of this legislation reflected
a negotiated agreement between the Department of Commerce, Department
of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff that preserved our national
security, protected Federal incumbents, and advanced studies which
would create a sustainable spectrum pipeline.
Question 24. Will you ensure that the feasibility studies currently
underway are completed in a thorough and comprehensive manner?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will seek to gain a better
understanding of the status of the feasibility studies to determine
what steps are necessary to complete them.
Question 25. Will you stand by the negotiated agreement between the
Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of
Staff?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will review the negotiated agreement.
Question 26. What changes do you anticipate making to either the
NSS or MOU between the FCC and NTIA?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will ensure a strong focus on Federal
spectrum coordination. The Department will reach out to stakeholders--
both within government and in the private-sector--to see how the NSS
and MOU are working and what changes, if any, are needed.
Non-Partisan Spectrum Policy. Mr. Lutnick, you posted on X on
October 27, 2024, stating that ``The United States owns the spectrum,
and it should only be auctioned for use by those who agree to be
nonpartisan. Companies that do business with America shouldn't be
allowed to use that power for partisan politics.'' This rhetoric
appears to be consistent with the directives of Project 2025 and
President Trump's Executive Order (``Restoring Freedom of Speech and
Ending Federal Censorship'') to identify and address Federal policies
aimed at ``censorship.''
Question 27. Do you support the directives in Project 2025, and the
directive in President Trump's Executive Order (``Restoring Freedom of
Speech and Ending Federal Censorship'') to identify and address Federal
policies aimed at ``censorship''?
Answer. I will follow President Donald J. Trump's executive orders
to the fullest extent of the law.
Question 28. What such policies at the Department of Commerce do
you see as impacted by the directives that President Trump and Project
2025 have identified?
Answer. I understand that several of President Donald J. Trump's
executive orders task agencies with determining which programs and
policies are impacted by those orders. As I have not been confirmed as
the Secretary of Commerce, I have not been involved with those efforts
at the Department. As for Project 2025, I am not affiliated with that
group. I cannot opine on any of the group's plans or materials.
American Aerospace Manufacturing Competitiveness. The United States
aerospace and defense sector has the largest positive trade balance
among all U.S. manufacturing sectors, valued at over $110 billion, and
supports over 2.2 million good paying jobs. China's aircraft
manufacturer, COMAC, is a growing threat to United States' market share
of commercial aircraft in the global aerospace sector. COMAC's
narrowbody C919 aircraft competes with the 737 series aircraft,
produced by Boeing, our leading domestic aircraft manufacturer. Boeing
has experienced significant challenges in recent years including
concerning aircraft production safety and quality issues that must be
corrected before production of the 737 MAX can be allowed to increase
beyond the cap of 38 per month instituted by former FAA Administrator
Mike Whitaker. This will take time and so will Boeing's overall
recovery efforts as a company to improve many of their product lines.
Boeing has estimated that Chinese airlines will need 8,830 new
total commercial planes by 2043. However, if the current Administration
were to issue broad retaliatory tariffs against China without
considering the impact that they could have against Boeing's ability to
sell aircraft in the Asian-Pacific market, Boeing and the greater
domestic aerospace supply chain would be at risk of losing its
competitive standing in the global aerospace sector. Such tariffs could
have harmful impacts on U.S.-based aerospace supply chain companies and
jobs.
Question 29. Do you commit to ensuring that the U.S. aerospace
manufacturing sector and supply chain are not subject to new costs and
burdens associated with tariffs, restrictions, or economic sanctions?
If confirmed, what actions will you take at the Department of Commerce
to assure domestic aerospace manufacturers they will not be put into
such harmful situations?
Answer. We need all businesses--small, medium, and large--to be
successful in order to benefit American workers and American
manufacturing. Upon confirmation, I will work to ensure that the U.S.
aerospace manufacturing sector and its workers are treated fairly and
can rely on a responsive government to help them succeed. A level
playing field on the global stage will be a distinct priority.
Question 30. What actions will you take to protect our domestic
aerospace supply chain and its highly-skilled American workers from new
disruptions--such as issues that would jeopardize U.S.-based jobs and
increase costs for U.S.-based companies?
Answer. I understand that the Department is currently studying U.S.
supply chains and industrial base pursuant to the America First Trade
Policy Presidential Memorandum. This and other studies that are
currently under way will inform our decisions on potential actions.
Tariffs and Trade
Question 31. Do you said you do not view tariffs as inflationary.
Please explain what impact that new tariffs would have on American
families, farmers, and small businesses?
Answer. The use of tariffs will help recalibrate our trading
relationships and ensure American families, farmers, and small
businesses are treated fairly and not taken advantage of by foreign
interests.
Question 32. You indicated that you support an across-the-board
approach to tariffs as opposed to targeted tariffs. What legal
authorities will the U.S. Department of Commerce use to impose such
tariffs?
Answer. The Department is prepared to use any and all authorities
at its disposal to implement the President's trade agenda.
Question 33. What role do you expect to play in the Trump
administration's trade policy? How will your role be different from the
role of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretaries of State and
Treasury?
Answer. The statutory responsibilities and authorities of the
office of USTR remain unchanged. The same is true for the statutory
responsibilities and authorities of the Secretary of State and
Secretary of the Treasury. Under President Donald J. Trump's
leadership, the Department will play a coordinating role with its
interagency partners to deliver results for American workers, families,
and businesses.
Question 34. How does the Trump administration plan on dealing with
retaliatory tariffs and what role will the U.S. Department of Commerce
play?
Answer. I expect that the Department of Commerce, in close
coordination with the Department of the Treasury and USTR, will advance
President Trump's trade and tariffs policy agenda. I will work closely
with Treasury and USTR to help ensure that American workers and
American manufacturers receive the benefit of the President's trade and
tariffs policies.
Question 35. Will the U.S. Department of Commerce lead an exclusion
process if tariffs are imposed under Section 232? How will Commerce
ensure that any exclusion process is fair, consistent, and transparent?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will coordinate closely with the
Department of the Treasury and USTR to develop and implement trade and
tariff policy. I will prioritize fairness, consistency, and
transparency.
Question 36. President Obama tried to double U.S. exports. What
goal do you have to grow U.S. exports and how will you achieve it?
Answer. Under President Donald J. Trump, the United States will be
the best place in the world to do business. Strong trade and investment
policy generate economic growth, rebalance trade, and increase exports
of goods and services.
Question 37. Trump has directed the Secretary of Commerce to review
the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty laws, also known as AD/CVD law.
These trade enforcement laws are critical to fighting non-market
policies and practices. In your view, how does AD/CVD law fit into the
president's economic agenda? If confirmed as Secretary of Commerce,
what do you see as the priorities for your review and report?
Answer. Strong trade enforcement is core to the Trump
Administration's trade policy. I understand the Department has been
conducting a review pursuant to President Trump's America First Trade
Policy Presidential Memorandum. As I have not been confirmed, I cannot
speak to those efforts.
Protecting American Interests. As Commerce Secretary, one of your
main missions would be to make sure that American interests come first.
As you know, the laws in the United Kingdom require that the Bank of
England have exclusive resolution authority over UK clearinghouses and
requires that the Bank of England prioritize UK citizens first when
exercising that authority.
Question 38. While it is true that the London Clearing House is
registered with the CFTC and that U.S. Treasuries do not leave the
United States, the law in the UK is also clear with respect to the role
of the Bank of England and how the BOE must exercise its authority over
UK clearinghouses. If the London Clearinghouse were permitted to clear
futures on U.S. Treasury securities, the Bank of England would have
authority to tear up those contracts and take other actions that could
have a negative impact on the U.S. Treasury markets. Where do you stand
on giving exclusive default and resolution authority over the U.S.
Treasury futures market to a foreign regulator?
Answer. No foreign regulator has exclusive default and resolution
authority over the U.S. Treasury futures market, and I am not aware of
any proposal for granting a foreign regulator such authority.
Cantor Fitzgerald's Relationship with Tether. During your staff
interview on January 24, 2024, you said Cantor Fitzgerald ``owns zero''
Tether and did not have an ownership interest in Tether. During this
staff interview, you also said that a November 23, 2024, Wall Street
Journal article reporting on an agreement under which Cantor Fitzgerald
stood to receive a 5 percent ownership interest in Tether, valued at
$600 million, was ``false.'' But during your nomination hearing, you
admitted that Cantor Fitzgerald ``owns a convertible bond with
Tether.''
Question 39. When did Cantor Fitzgerald enter this agreement to
purchase a convertible bond with Tether?
Answer. Cantor Fitzgerald made a convertible debt investment in the
holding company that owns the Tether stablecoin business in April 2024.
Question 40. What amount did Cantor Fitzgerald pay for this
convertible bond, and what is the most recent valuation?
Answer. The total amount paid in connection with the instrument is
not a matter of public record. As of its most recent valuation in Q3
2024, Cantor Fitzgerald books and records reflect its value at cost.
Question 41. Were you involved in negotiating the agreement for
Cantor Fitzgerald to purchase this convertible bond? If yes, please
describe your role.
Answer. Yes. I participated in the negotiations.
Question 42. For what purpose(s) did Cantor Fitzgerald purchase
this convertible bond?
Answer. To generate an attractive return for Cantor Fitzgerald.
Question 43. Do you believe Cantor Fitzgerald's convertible bond
with Tether does not constitute an ownership interest in Tether held by
Cantor Fitzgerald? If yes, please explain the basis for this position.
If no, please explain how your answers during your staff interview are
consistent with your testimony at your nomination hearing.
Answer. Cantor Fitzgerald's debt investment in Tether does not
constitute an equity interest.
Question 44. Please explain why you chose not to disclose Cantor
Fitzgerald's convertible bond with Tether during your staff interview
and how this omission reflects on your commitment to transparency with
Congress, if confirmed?
Answer. Minority staff asked if Cantor Fitzgerald owned 5 percent
of Tether. The answer is no. I was, am, and will remain transparent
with Congress.
Question 45. Besides Tether, how many clients has Cantor Fitzgerald
purchased a convertible bond with or otherwise directly invested in
during your tenure as Chairman?
Answer. Cantor Fitzgerald is a diversified financial services
organization providing a variety of services to its clients, which
includes investing in clients' businesses.
Question 46. Describe all other investments Cantor Fitzgerald,
Newmark, BGC, and any other company you own, or control has in Tether.
For any such investment, provide the same amount of detail as requested
in Questions 44--47 above.
Answer. None.
Question 47. Describe all other investments your or any of your
family members have in Tether. For any such investment, provide the
same amount of detail as requested in Questions 44-47 above.
Answer. None.
Audit. Tether claims to be ``pegged at 1-to-1'' with the U.S.
dollar and ``backed 100 percent by Tether's reserves.'' During a
Bitcoin Conference in July 2024, you said ``I can tell you with
absolute certainty that Tether has every penny, and it can produce
liquidity on a moment's notice.''
Question 48. Can you confirm that Tether's representations
regarding its relationship to the U.S. dollar and reserves backing USDT
are accurate?
Answer. Cantor Fitzgerald is not conducting continuous diligence on
Tether's financial statements, but I believe my statements were
accurate when made.
Question 49. During your nomination hearing, you said ``U.S. dollar
stable coins should be audited.'' As the custodian of most of Tether's
assets, will you publicly call on Tether to submit to an independent
audit in the next three months and publicly release the results? If
not, please explain why not.
Answer. Upon my confirmation as Secretary of Commerce, I will
faithfully execute my duties consistent with applicable government
ethics laws and regulations and based on the guidance of Department of
Commerce Ethics Department officials.
Investigations into Tether. According to a November 23, 2024,
article in the Wall Street Journal, Tether's owner, Giancarlo Devasini,
told business associates that you assured him that you would use your
political clout to try to defuse threats facing Tether.
Question 50. Is this reporting accurate?
Answer. I do not know what Mr. Devasini told business associates.
Question 51. Have you ever told Devasini, or anyone else affiliated
with Tether, that you would try to defuse threats facing Tether?
Answer. I have never suggested to anyone that I would do anything
improper with respect to Tether.
Question 52. The same Wall Street Journal report detailed a May
2024 meeting between you and Devasini, after which Devasini told
business associates that you would seek to kill any bills that could
hurt Tether. Is this reporting accurate?
Answer. I do not know what Mr. Devasini told business associates.
Question 53. Have you ever told Devasini, or anyone else affiliated
with Tether, that you would seek to undermine any bills, proposed
legislation, or other legislative or regulatory efforts to regulate
Tether?
Answer. I have repeatedly conveyed my belief that the U.S. Congress
should be careful not to undermine dollar hegemony on blockchain
through legislation.
Question 54. Tether is reportedly under investigation by the U.S.
Justice Department for possible violations of sanctions and anti-money-
laundering laws. The Treasury Department has also reportedly considered
sanctioning Tether given its cryptocurrency's widespread use by
individuals and groups sanctioned by the United States. Will you commit
not to interfere with or otherwise attempt to influence any Federal
investigation into Tether, if confirmed?
Answer. I commit to fulfilling my duties as the Secretary of
Commerce consistent with government ethics laws and regulations, to the
extent applicable.
Question 55. Have you discussed any potential Federal investigation
into Tether with Devasini? If yes, please describe what you discussed
and when these discussions occurred.
Answer. No.
Law Enforcement Cooperation. Mr. Lutnick, you have said that Tether
cooperates with law enforcement. But cooperation with law enforcement
after a crime has been identified is the least we should expect,
especially of someone who has been nominated for a Cabinet position.
Question 56. What proactive actions have you pressed Tether to take
to make its platform less attractive to illicit financing?
Answer. Tether does not operate a blockchain platform, but Cantor
Fitzgerald has been supportive of Tether's ever-increasing engagement
with U.S. law enforcement.
Question 57. Have you ever told Tether that Cantor Fitzgerald would
cease managing their assets unless Tether took additional measures to
combat illicit financing? If yes, please specify when you first
approached Tether about this issue and detail what measures you advised
they take.
Answer. Cantor Fitzerald has been supportive of Tether's ever-
increasing engagement with U.S. law enforcement.
Question 58. Are you aware of any law enforcement request that
Tether has not fully cooperated with? If yes, please detail each such
request.
Answer. No.
Question 59. During your nomination hearing, you said ``AI tools
used by the U.S. government running through the market will rid the
world of criminals using blockchain.'' You predicted these AI tools
would be available in a couple years. Is it your position that the
United States must wait for future technology in order to combat
illicit financing in the stablecoin market effectively?
Answer. No.
Question 60. Do you believe there are no other tools we could
deploy today to prevent the abuse of stablecoins in the secondary
market?
Answer. No.
Ethics Agreement. Although your ethics agreement states that, if
confirmed, you will resign as trustee and terminate your grantor status
of your family trusts, members of your family remain the beneficiaries.
According to your public financial disclosure report (OGE-278), your
family trusts invest in a variety of companies that appear to have a
direct nexus to programs and policies under the purview of the
Department of Commerce, including companies that develop AI
technologies and autonomous drones.
Question 61. Will you take any additional steps, beyond those
outlined in your ethics agreement, to give the American people
assurances that you will act in the public's best interests and not
those of your family?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 62. Your ethics agreement also states that you will resign
from your positions with Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC, and Newmark, and
divest your equity and stock interests in these companies. But it does
not indicate to whom you will divest these interests. You previously
stated only that you ``do not expect any arrangement which involves
selling shares on the open market.'' Please detail your current
intentions for divesting these interests.
Answer. I will divest my interests in Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC, and
Newmark consistent with applicable government ethics laws and
regulations as set forth in my ethics agreement.
Question 63. To promote transparency and public confidence, if
confirmed will you commit to publicly releasing the terms of your
divestments, including the identities of the acquiring parties? If no,
please explain why not.
Answer. I will divest my interests in Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC, and
Newmark consistent with applicable government ethics laws and
regulations as set forth in my ethics agreement.
Satellogic. Following the announcement of your nomination in
November 2024, you resigned from the Board of Satellogic, a commercial
remote sensing satellite company. However, Cantor Fitzgerald
significantly increased the number of shares it owns in Satellogic in
November 2024. And according to a Satellogic SEC filing, Tether--with
which Cantor Fitzgerald holds a convertible bond--entered an agreement
with Satellogic in April 2024 to buy $30 million worth of secured
convertible notes. Satellogic received a commercial remote sensing
license from the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) in November 2023 and will now be subject to
NOAA's Office of Space Commerce (OSC) oversight.
Question 64. If confirmed, will you commit to recusing yourself
from all discussions regarding Satellogic, including NOAA's oversight
of Satellogic?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 65. Please explain the steps you will take, beyond your
ethics agreement, to assure the public that you will not seek to
benefit Satellogic if confirmed as Commerce Secretary.
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 66. In December 2024, Cantor Fitzgerald was fined $6.75
million by the SEC to settle charges that it violated securities laws.
According to the SEC, Cantor Fitzgerald caused two special purpose
acquisition companies (SPACs) it controlled to falsely deny in
regulatory filings having had contact or substantive discussions with
potential merger targets before those SPACs' initial public offering.
In fact, Cantor Fitzgerald had already initiated discussions with
Satellogic and at least two other potential targets regarding a
potential business combination when it submitted the false filing,
according to the SEC.
As the Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, were you aware of or
involved in these discussions with Satellogic or the other potential
targets identified by the SEC?
Answer. Cantor Fitzgerald agreed with the SEC that Cantor Fitzerald
would neither admit nor deny the SEC order's findings.
Question 67. Do you condone violations of Federal securities laws
like this?
Answer. Cantor Fitzgerald agreed with the SEC that Cantor Fitzerald
would neither admit nor deny the SEC order's findings. I do not condone
violations of laws.
China. Through BGC and Cantor Fitzgerald, you have developed
business ties to Chinese state-owned entities. Concerns have been
raised over whether your business interests in China may pose conflicts
of interest or the appearance of conflicts if you are confirmed as
Commerce Secretary. According to Kathleen Clark, a professor of
government ethics at Washington University in St. Louis, your financial
dealings make you essentially ``business partners'' with the Chinese
government, which ``raises the specter of the Chinese government having
leverage over the commerce secretary.''
Question 68. Beyond your ethics agreement, how will you assure the
American people that your decisions as Commerce Secretary, if
confirmed, will not be influenced by your financial ties to Chinese-
state-owned entities?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 69. If confirmed, will you screen yourself from any
communication with your business associates involved in Chinese-state-
owned enterprises, such China Credit BGC Money Broking Company Limited,
regarding the Administration's policies related to China?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. On January 20, 2025, President
Trump signed an Executive Order aiming to end all diversity, equity,
and inclusion (DEI) programs in the Federal Government. The following
week, President Trump signed another DEI executive order, this time
targeting specifically the United States armed forces. Mr. Lutnick, you
seem to value DEI in the workplace--as do I, and many Americans across
the country and our workforce. Under your leadership at BGC, the
company says it is developing and retaining top talent while
emphasizing ``increasing representation of traditionally
underrepresented groups at all levels of the organization.'' In 2023,
another one of your companies, Newmark, signed the Girl Scouts' Gender
Parity Initiative: Fair Play, Equal Pay. By signing up for this the
initiative, Newmark pledged to advance gender parity within your
organization and embraced the goal to achieve like pay for like work as
well as 30 percent female leaders in corporate leadership roles by
2030. Notably, Newmark was even named to Globe St.'s 2021 Women of
Influence `Diversity Champion' list.''
Question 70. Mr. Lutnick, you have built and led multiple highly
successful companies--at which DEI policies appear to be implemented
today. Do you think these policies have benefitted your companies?
Answer. I do not know.
Question 71. Do you disagree with President Trump's executive
orders on DEI noted above?
Answer. No.
Cryptocurrency Policy. President Trump created a President's
Working Group on Digital Asset Markets charged with formulating
policies on digital assets--including stablecoins like Tether. As
Commerce Secretary, you would sit on this Working Group.
Question 72. Do you plan on recusing yourself from this Working
Group? If no, please explain how this decision does not present a
conflict or the appearance of a conflict, given your extensive ties to
Tether.
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 73. If confirmed, will you commit not to discuss the
Administration's cryptocurrency policies, regulations, or other
deliberations with any individual associated with Tether?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
Question 74. According to an October 23, 2024, report in Politico,
Republican officials close to President Trump accused you of improperly
mixing your business interests with your duties as then-co-chair of the
transition team. Specifically, you were accused of taking meetings on
Capitol Hill in your role as transition co-chair, but then using the
opportunity to raise matters impacting Cantor Fitzgerald, including
regulatory matters involving cryptocurrency, with the Members you met.
During the time you served as co-chair of the transition team, did
you ever meet with Members on Capitol Hill regarding Cantor Fitzgerald
or cryptocurrency? If yes, please identify which Member(s) and the
purpose for the meeting(s).
Answer. I never met with members regarding regulatory matters
involving Cantor Fitzgerald or cryptocurrency in my capacity as co-
chair of the transition team.
Project 2025 and NOAA, NOAA Organic Act. NOAA is the largest bureau
within the Department of Commerce (``DOC'') and accounts for nearly 64
percent of its appropriated funds and a little less than one-third of
its employees, nearly 12,000 people worldwide.
Project 2025 states that ``NOAA should be dismantled and many of
its functions eliminated.''
Question 75. Should NOAA be dismantled?
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues.
Question 76. Do you support any function, mission, or
congressionally authorized or appropriated work within NOAA, or
executed by NOAA, being moved out of the NOAA or the Department of
Commerce? If so, please describe.
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues.
Question 77. If confirmed, will the Department of Commerce retain
all NOAA missions, functions, authorities, and congressionally
authorized and appropriated programs, grants, and activities within
NOAA?
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues.
Question 78. Project 2025 stated that the National Weather Service
forecasting operations should be fully commercialized, and its focus
should be shifted to only data gathering. This would benefit private
companies that use NOAA's taxpayer funded data and forecasting for free
and then charge taxpayers for those services. Collaboration with the
private sector is already happening at NOAA, but Project 2025 wants to
halt the agency from providing its free, lifesaving forecasts that some
companies see as competition to their product. Do you support the
National Weather Service continuing to provide these critical forecasts
without privatization?
Answer. I will support the NWS to continue providing its forecasts
for the protection of life and property.
Question 79. What is your vision for the National Weather Service?
Answer. I think the National Weather Service can operate more
efficiently, but the outcome of delivering its services should not be
changed.
Question 80. Project 2025 proposed to ``streamline'' the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). What does that mean?
Answer. I am not affiliated with Project 2025. I cannot opine on
any of the group's plans or materials.
Question 81. If NMFS were to move to the Department of the
Interior, it would create substantial additional layers of red tape
because the Secretary of Commerce is required to execute many
functions, including regulatory functions, under law. Are you
considering moving the National Marine Fisheries Service out of NOAA?
Answer. No.
Question 82. The Secretary of Commerce has specific authorities
under the Endangered Species Act with respect to a number of species
under NOAA's jurisdiction, including salmon, Southern resident orcas,
and North Atlantic right whales. Will you ensure that as Secretary, you
continue to uphold the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal
Protection Act, and all other laws governing NOAA and Department of
Commerce activities related to NOAA's functions and missions that were
in place on January 1, 2025?
Answer. I will follow the law.
Question 83. If the Department of Commerce were to allow the
Department of the Interior to conduct the Department of Commerce
Endangered Species Act activates, including listings, consultations,
and any other activities, the Secretary of Commerce would still be
required under law to execute the Endangered Species Act. Allowing
Department of Interior to participate in these activities would add red
tape, result in permitting delays, it would separate scientists and
experts from regulatory matters concerning endangered and protected
species and ultimately result in increased cost to communities that
rely on reliable permitting and consultations to execute infrastructure
projects such as ports, highways and rail. Would you allow any NOAA
Endangered Species or Protected Species authorities, functions, or
activities (including consultations) to be moved to the Department of
the Interior?
Answer. I will continue to support collaboration between NOAA and
Interior when necessary on ESA activities as they currently do.
NOAA Corps.
The NOAA Corps is the smallest uniformed service of the United
States and is comprised of 320 uniformed members operating a fleet of
15 large research vessels, 10 aircraft, and many small boats. NOAA
research vessels conduct hydrographic, oceanographic, atmospheric, and
fisheries research including stock assessments which support fisheries
management, energy development, marine transportation, port operations,
emergency response, and national security. Project 2025 proposes to
break up the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and reassign
NOAA's vessel and aircraft fleet to other agencies, eliminating NOAA's
ability to meet its missions.
Question 84. Are you in support of breaking up this office and
reassigning its assets?
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues.
Question 85. The NOAA Corps has been underfunded in recent years,
which is why we have worked in a bipartisan basis to authorize funding
increases for the Corps missions, people, and assets. Do you support
increasing resources for the NOAA Corps so that it is able to execute
its full mission set?
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues.
Question 86. The NOAA Corps provides a critical service to our
Nation yet is often overlooked in laws and policies governing the
Uniformed Services of the United States. As Secretary, would you work
with the Committee, and with your own authority, to provide services,
benefits, cutting edge training, and access to family resources such as
childcare, health care, and other unique needs of NOAA Corps members?
Answer. While I have testified about my priorities if confirmed, it
is premature to discuss any specific recommendations before engaging
with NOAA and the Office of Management and Budget. Additionally, at
this time, it would be premature for me to comment on specific policy
commitments before I have a chance to confer with the Department and
the President. If I am confirmed, I look forward to working with you on
these issues.
Question 87. Sexual assault and sexual harassment at sea is also a
serious issue facing all uniformed services, including the NOAA Corps.
As Secretary, how will you work to eliminate instances of sexual
assault, sexual harassment, and sexual misconduct from the NOAA Corps?
Answer. I will fully support the significant advancements NOAA has
made in eliminating sexual assault, harassment and misconduct in the
NOAA Fleet and across the NOAA portfolio. The priority on training,
expectations for conduct, and accountability measures that are part of
NOAA and the NOAA Corps will remain in effect under my leadership.
Question 88. The NOAA Corps has made great strides in improving
investigations, response, and victim care, but there is more to be
done. How will you work to address prevention, response, and victim
care activities in the NOAA Corps?
Answer. I will work to ensure the resources required by the NOAA
Corps for prevention, response and victim care are provided. The NOAA
Corps works with the other services to access resources and leverage
shared government resources to support our service members.
Question 89. Sexual assault and sexual harassment are also a
problem in the NOAA fisheries observer programs. What will you do to
address these issues facing fisheries observers?
Answer. Observer safety at sea is an on-going and serious issue. I
will continue the work NOAA does with the U.S. Coast Guard, Congress,
and industry to institute best practices through training and
accountability to provide a safe working environment for fishery
observers. I will also work with Congress and the USCG to evaluate
opportunities for monetary and permitting deterrents.
Oscar Dyson's Repair Funding. We understand that repairs for the R/
V Oscar Dyson's repair funding have been held up by the EO pausing
executive orders. The R/V Oscar Dyson is critical for the Alaskan
Pollock industry's stock assessments, which they rely on under law to
establish catch limits.
Question 90. Should this funding be paused? Did you review the
updated OMB guidance?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will review the OMB guidance and work
closely with you and your office on this issue.
Question 91. Will you commit to ensuring that the contract will be
issued for the R/V Oscar Dyson's midlife repair as appropriated and
included in the spend plan approved by the appropriations committees?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I plan to work closely with Congress on
the R/V Oscar Dyson's condition and address it in a timely and
efficient manner.
Question 92. Do you support transferring survey funding to the
Coast Guard? Or the USGS? The USGS does not operate vessels of this
size and is not capable.
Answer. It is not my intention to move services outside of NOAA and
into other agencies.
Scientific Integrity. Science-based decision-making is at the core
of weather forecasting and is a cornerstone of robust policy decisions.
Question 93. Will you ensure that NOAA's scientific work remains
accurate and free from political interference?
Answer. I support that NOAA's scientific work continues to follow
the science, the scientific method and remains scientifically accurate.
Question 94. What steps will you take to ensure NOAA continues to
lead the world in ocean and atmospheric science, modelling, and
engineering?
Answer. Atmospheric science, modelling, and engineering are at the
core of NOAA's mission to protect life and property through its
services to the American people. I support NOAA continuing to lead the
world in these efforts.
Tribal Consultation and Salmon Management. Tribes are a key partner
in fisheries management, conservation, and resilience, across the
nation, and especially in Pacific Northwest and Alaska. NOAA has
struggled to meet its treaty obligations to tribes and has not fully
complied with government-to-government consultation and engagement
requirements under law and policy.
Question 95. If confirmed, will you ensure that Tribes are able to
access meaningful government-to-government consultation on NOAA
programs, including grants?
Answer. Yes.
Question 96. Will you commit to the Department's obligation to
provide technical assistance to Tribes? Will you continue to support
capacity building programs, including programs that support Tribes
accessing and executing grants and providing access to technical
assistance?
Answer. Yes.
Question 97. I established a new Tribal hatchery infrastructure
program in an effort to restore salmon populations that benefit Tribes,
sportsmen and Washington's $22 billion outdoor recreation economy which
supports more than 200,000 jobs. Do you support investing in hatchery
infrastructure? Will you work with me to double down on salmon hatchery
investments to ensure that tribes, sportsmen, and commercial fishermen
are able to fish?
Answer. NOAA considers the Tribes key partners in fisheries
management and should continue to work with them on fisheries issues.
Question 98. What is the definition of DEI? Do you consider
programs supporting Tribes as DEI? Do you consider tribal consultation
as DEI? Are tribal liaisons and offices designated as DEI?
Answer. NOAA respects the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and
considers the Tribes key partners in fisheries management and will
continue to work with them on fisheries issues.
Montlake Lab. NOAA's Montlake Fisheries Science Center (``Montlake
Lab'') in Seattle will be divested due to the building's age, and
proximity to the 520 Bridge. The Montlake Lab conducts critical
research important to our multi-billion-dollar fisheries in the Pacific
Northwest and Alaska, including research into future opportunities in
domestic aquaculture of black cod and shellfish. In lieu of
constructing a new building, NOAA is working on establishing a long-
term lease of a new facility at the University of Washington. More than
$80 million has already been appropriated for this purpose.
Question 99. Will you commit to ensuring the appropriated $80
million will reserved for its intended use: to replace NOAA's Montlake
Lab?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will work to better understand
Montlake Lab and will appreciate your input on this issue.
Fisheries. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing poses
significant threats not only to global fish stocks but also to national
security and economic security in the United States, as illegal fishing
often goes hand in hand with other illicit activities such as forced
labor and drug trafficking. Failure to effectively combat IUU fishing
also places U.S. fishing communities--which invest millions of dollars
to play by the rules--at a competitive disadvantage in U.S. and global
markets.
Question 100. How would you, as Secretary of Commerce, strengthen
NOAA's efforts to combat illegal fishing, particularly in key regions
of interest, such as the Arctic? Do you agree it is critical to close
U.S. markets to illegal seafood imports, including Russian seafood?
Answer. Yes. I think it is critical to combat illegal seafood
imports and will work closely with NOAA to combat illegal fishing upon
confirmation.
Question 101. How else will you help the U.S. lead in combating
illegal fishing and safeguard American interests?
Answer. I plan to work closely with Congress to identify illegal
fishing across the United States and address it in a timely and
efficient manner.
Question 102. NOAA Fisheries and partner agencies are working to
combat IUU fishing and associated labor abuses in the seafood sector.
Unfortunately, U.S. consumers unwittingly buy imported IUU-fished
seafood each year, making our market a major driver of global illegal
fishing and its grave human costs. We import more seafood than any
other single nation in the world, including, in 2019, an estimated $2.4
billion dollars' worth of seafood imports derived from IUU fishing
practices. The influx of illegal imports, in turn, is harming our
domestic fishing communities as they seek a fair price for their legal
catch. Would you agree that the United States has tremendous market
power to curb illegal fishing and improve ocean health by rejecting IUU
fished seafood from its markets? Do you commit to supporting NOAA
Fisheries in continuing its efforts to do so within the Department of
Commerce?
Answer. Yes. I support NOAA's efforts to curb illegal fishing and
improve ocean health through rejecting IUU fished seafood to U.S.
markets.
Question 103. The U.S. has some of the most effectively managed
fisheries in the world Our fisheries are critical to the economy. The
Magnuson-Stevens Act has successfully built numerous fisheries around
the country, but there is still progress to be made in our management
system.
How do you plan to enhance NOAA's role in ensuring that U.S.
fisheries are sustainably managed for future generations?
Answer. I support responsibly managed fisheries and, upon
confirmation, will work closely with your office on this matter.
Question 104. Given the significant economic challenges facing the
U.S. fishing industry, including high production costs, collapsing
markets, and foreign competition that is sabotaging prices and markets
for American fishermen, how would you as Commerce Secretary ensure the
long-term viability of coastal communities and economies that are
reliant on healthy fisheries and ecosystems?
Answer. Ensuring the long-term viability of coastal communities and
economies that are reliant on healthy fisheries and ecosystems is very
important. Upon confirmation, I will work closely with you and your
office on this topic.
Question 105. According to the latest statistics from 2022, U.S.
commercial and recreational fisheries generated $321 billion in sales,
2.3 million jobs, and $149.8 billion in value-added to the U.S.
economy. Commercial fisheries landings alone were valued at $5.9
billion, and recreational fishermen took 201 million fishing trips that
year. Communities across the country rely on these fisheries and the
benefits they provide. They also rely on NOAA Fisheries providing world
class science and management to support this fishing activity. Will you
commit to investing effort and resources into improving fishery data
systems, navigating climate change, and other pressures on fisheries?
Answer. Ensuring robust and organized data, and management of that
data is key to having world class science at NMFS. Upon confirmation, I
will support improving the science and management of fisheries.
Question 106. Do you support increased funding for stock assessment
surveys?
Answer. Robust and reliable data is critical to the NMFS mission.
Upon confirmation, I will be happy to work with your office closely on
improving stock assessments.
Question 107. Pursuant to regulation, the National Marine Fisheries
Service will issue determinations late in 2025 on whether foreign
fisheries are meeting U.S. standards for protecting marine mammals and
the U.S. government will ban imports that do not meet U.S. standards on
January 1, 2026. Until that regulation is implemented, U.S. fishermen
compete in the U.S. market against foreign fisheries that are not
playing by the rules and U.S. consumers are unwittingly eating seafood
that needlessly kills whales and dolphins. Will you commit to ensuring
that the National Marine Fisheries Service rigorously implements the
requirement that foreign fisheries meet U.S. standards and not allow
the agency to give foreign fisheries a ``pass'' for mere effort and
instead demand concrete, affirmative proof that foreign fisheries meet
U.S. standards?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to better understanding
this issue receiving your input.
NOAA and DOGE. President Trump has created a new ``Department of
Government Efficiency'' (DOGE) to be run by people without expertise in
ocean and climate science or marine natural resource management.
Despite this lack of experience and expertise, DOGE will make
recommendations on how to manage Federal agencies like NOAA, including
on which programs and positions to cut. NOAA employs workers across the
United States, with laboratories and regional offices supporting jobs
in Alaska, Washington, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii, Missouri, and
Utah. Shutting down these offices or broadly firing career employees
would not only harm U.S. ocean science leadership, it would also harm
the communities across the country that benefit from NOAA facilities,
data, and services.
Question 108. If confirmed, would you carry out recommendations
that would jeopardize NOAA's scientific integrity, or reduce public
access to NOAA data and services?
Answer. NOAA is one of the best examples of a government agency
that provides data and services back to the taxpayers, through its data
and services for the protection of life and property. I will follow the
law, and I support NOAA taking a data-driven approach to address
important issues.
Question 109. NOAA's current mission is ``To understand and predict
changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share that knowledge
and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and
marine ecosystems and resources''. Do you agree with this mission? If
so, how will you use your position as Secretary of Commerce to advance
this mission?
Answer. Yes. Upon confirmation, I will work to support NOAA
achieving its mission in the most efficient and effective manner
possible.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Amy Klobuchar to
Howard Lutnick
Question Topic: Artificial Intelligence
We discussed American leadership in artificial intelligence (AI)
and the need to put standards in place for high-impact AI models. My
bill with Majority Leader Thune, the Artificial Intelligence Research,
Innovation, and Accountability Act, would direct the Commerce
Department to issue standards for testing and evaluating high-risk,
non-defense AI applications.
Question 1. If confirmed, will you review this bill and commit to
working with us on it?
Answer. Yes.
Question Topic: Unfair Trade Practices
It is critical Minnesota's workers and producers have the
opportunity to grow and thrive without being undermined by unfair trade
practices. For decades, our Nation's bipartisan antidumping and
countervailing duty laws have played a vital role in addressing those
practices. I have heard from industries and workers in my state about
the need to enforce and strengthen these laws.
Question 2. If confirmed, what will you do to ensure that the
Commerce Department aggressively enforces our anti-dumping and
countervailing duty laws?
Answer. Strong trade enforcement will be a priority during my
tenure. Upon confirmation, I look forward to working with Congress to
ensure that the Department is properly resourced and has the tools it
needs to execute its mission.
Question 3. Will you commit to working with Congress to update our
trade laws to address repeat violators and account for cross-border
subsidies?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to working with Congress
on efforts to strengthen the Department's authority to address bad
actors that unfairly disadvantage American workers and businesses.
Question Topic: Semiconductor Follow-up
Given that bolstering domestic semiconductor manufacturing is a big
priority of mine, I was glad to hear yesterday that you consider CHIPS
Act funding to be a much-needed ``down payment'' for the American
economy but want to clarify what you meant.
Question 4. If confirmed, do you commit to strengthening
investments in the production of legacy-node semiconductors (also known
as specialty chips) in Minnesota and across the country?
Answer. Reshoring and nearshoring semiconductor production is
critical to our economic and national security. Ensuring that the
United States has robust domestic manufacturing capacity and supply
chains to support the production of semiconductors is a top priority
for me. Upon confirmation, I plan to ensure that the Department is
delivering these objectives in the most effective way possible.
Question Topic: Greenland/Conflicts of Interest
We discussed Cantor Fitzgerald's financial interest in Critical
Metals Corp., which acquired a controlling stake in a mine in southern
Greenland in June 2024. According to the New York Times, Critical
Metals Corp.'s CEO regards you as a possible conduit for U.S.
government investment in this project.
According to your government ethics agreement, you have agreed to
not participate in any matters that have a direct and predictable
effect on the financial interests of Cantor Fitzgerald or its
subsidiaries until you are fully divested from the firm. Reports
indicate, however, that your family members intend to continue working
for the firm. As a result, regardless of your own personal divestment
plans, I am concerned about the potential conflicts of interest, as
well as the appearance of such conflicts.
Question 5. If confirmed, will you recuse yourself from policy
issues related to Greenland?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Edward Markey to
Howard Lutnick
Trade with Canada
Canada buys $3.2 billion worth of goods from Massachusetts every
year and 35,000 people in my state are employed by Canadian companies.
Canada has already taken significant steps to reduce illegal activity
at the border.
Question 1. Will you push back if President Trump attempts to use
trade laws for anything other than to support Americans and American
jobs?
Answer. President Donald J. Trump's mission, and my mission, is to
support the American people, create good paying American jobs, and keep
our country safe. I think we all can and should support those goals.
Pardons:
Question 2. Do you support President Trump's pardons of violent
January 6th insurrectionists?
Answer. Presidential pardons are the prerogative of the President
and outside the scope of the Department of Commerce.
Inspectors General:
Last week, President Trump fired the Department of Commerce
Inspector General, among 17 other inspectors general, without giving a
30-day notice to Congress, as required by law.
Question 3. Do you support President Trump's decision to fire the
Inspectors General?
Answer. I look forward to working with the new Inspector General
upon confirmation.
Question 4. If President Trump directed you to unlawfully remove
employees under the Commerce Department, would you comply with that
order?
Answer. I will follow the law.
Artificial Intelligence:
In your confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Commerce
Committee you mentioned your goal to create artificial intelligence
standards.
Question 5. Can you describe your plan for the creation of
artificial intelligence standards?
Answer. As I stated in the hearing, the Department has the gold
standard in cybersecurity. We should seek a similar approach for AI.
The United States should be a leader in AI development, not a leader in
heavy-handed regulation that hampers innovation.
Question 6. If confirmed, will you commit to directing the National
Institute of Standards and Technology to convene a consortium of
stakeholders to identify measurement needs and standards for artificial
intelligence's environmental impacts?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I support including all relevant and
necessary stakeholders.
Question 7. If confirmed, will you commit to supporting the
National Institute of Standards and Technology to create a system for
entities developing or operating artificial intelligence to voluntarily
report the full range of artificial intelligence's environment impacts?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I commit to studying this issue further
and working with your office on this matter.
Question 8. NTIA also recently released a report noting the
benefits of open-source AI and has also concluded that the Federal
government should invest in monitoring and testing AI for harms. Will
you follow the recommendations of Commerce's own experts within NTIA?
Answer. As stated in President Donald J. Trump's Executive order,
titled ``Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial
Intelligence,'' AI should promote human flourishing, economic
competitiveness, and national security. Upon confirmation, I look
forward to working with NTIA on advancing these objectives while
mitigating risks that would hinder AI's potential.
Algorithmic Discrimination:
Question 9. Do you believe that bias and discriminatory artificial
intelligence is a problem?
Answer. I believe AI should be held to the highest standards.
Question 10. If confirmed, what is your plan to address biased and
discriminatory artificial intelligence, especially in critical areas
such as health care, education, employment, and criminal justice?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will work to ensure AI is held to the
highest standards.
Workforce Development Programs:
The Department of Commerce established two principles that guided
the Department's workforce development programs. First, the Department
of Commerce laid out a three-part approach to help meet employers' need
for talent and to connect Americans to good jobs. These principles
included: Invest in employer-driven education and training systems;
foster transformative employer practices; and produce timely data to
help Americans develop and advance. Second, through the Department of
Labor's Good Jobs Principles, the Department of Commerce worked to
ensure its programs created goods jobs as a building block for
equitable economic growth.
Question 11. If confirmed, will you keep these two principles in
place?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to examining the
Department's principles.
Million Women in Construction Initiative:
In May, Department of Commerce announced the Million Women in
Construction Initiative which aims to expand the American construction
workforce by doubling the number of women in construction over the next
decade.
Question 12. If confirmed, will you commit to maintaining the Women
in Construction Initiative?
Answer. I support the Department's work to boost American
manufacturing.
Question 13. If directed by President Trump, would you stop any
support for increasing the number of women in the construction
industry?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to coordinating with the
President on labor market policy.
Facial Recognition:
NIST's Face Recognition Vendor Test has been an important tool in
informing our understanding of the impact, bias, and performance of
facial recognition technology.
Question 14. Do you commit to maintaining the program, including
its independence in its scientific and voluntary assessments?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to carefully reviewing
this program.
Closing the Digital Divide:
Question 15. Do you support closing the digital divide for low-
income people?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 16. Do you support closing the digital divide for elderly
individuals?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 17. Do you support closing the digital divide for
incarcerated individuals?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 18. Do you support closing the digital divide for
veterans?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 19. Do you support closing the digital divide for
individuals with disabilities?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 20. Do you support closing the digital divide for
individuals with a language barrier?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 21. Do you support closing the digital divide for
individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 22. Do you support closing the digital divide for people
who primarily reside in a rural area?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 23. If confirmed, what is your plan to close the digital
divide in our country?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will use all appropriate tools to
improve connectivity for all Americans in the most efficient and
effective way.
Question 24. If confirmed, what is your plan to close the digital
divide for Indigenous people?
Answer. I support efforts to improve connectivity for all
Americans.
Question 25. If confirmed, what is your plan to close the digital
divide for students?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will support efforts to improve
connectivity for all Americans.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:
Question 26. Project 2025 included a proposal to dissolve the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA houses
irreplaceable climate, fisheries, and endangered species expertise. Can
you confirm you would not dissolve or privatize NOAA, if confirmed?
Answer. I was not affiliated with Project 2025. I cannot opine on
any of the group's plans or materials. I have no plans to dissolve
NOAA.
Question 27. We have critical NOAA facilities in Massachusetts,
including the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Can you commit to
working with me to maintain that facility and support NOAA's presence
in Massachusetts?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will commit to working with you on
this topic.
Question 28. President Trump has already issued executive orders
targeting offshore wind. These projects are creating hundreds of union
jobs in Massachusetts, and NOAA has a role in permitting these projects
and understanding their effect on our ocean sand wildlife. If
confirmed, will you work with me to protect Massachusetts jobs and help
return economic stability to this industry?
Answer. I support all American workers, and I look forward to
working with your office on this topic.
Question 29. Project 2025 also called for the privatization of key
functions of the National Weather Service. Do you support the
privatization of our National Weather Service?
Answer. I was not affiliated with Project 2025. I cannot opine on
any of the group's plans or materials. NOAA and the National Weather
Service provide important services to the American people.
Minority Business Development Agency:
Question 30. Do you believe the President's executive orders can
overturn statutory authority at the Minority Business Development
Agency?
Answer. I will comply with President Donald J. Trump's executive
orders to the fullest extent of the law.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Gary Peters to
Howard Lutnick
Question 1. Mr. Lutnick, it is clear that if a universal tariff
approach is taken by this Administration, trade enforcement will look
substantially different than in years past. In fact, it is likely that
the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration
will be tasked with investigating greater instances of duty
circumvention. How do you envision the International Trade
Administration factoring into the enforcement of this Administration's
trade agenda? Do you believe the agency possesses the appropriate
resources to handle what will likely be an increased volume of
investigations?
Answer. The Department has seen a significant increase in trade
enforcement cases, and additional resources should be considered. Upon
confirmation, I hope to work with your office and appropriators to make
sure that component of the Department is properly resourced.
Question 2. Mr. Lutnick, as you are aware, under Section 232 of the
Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the President is permitted to impose
certain import controls, including tariffs, so long as the Commerce
Department investigates and determines that imports in question
threaten national security. So far, the Trump Administration has
threatened to impose tariffs on countries, outside of the Section 232
process, as well as outside of the Section 201 and 301 processes. If
the President does indeed consider imposing tariffs outside of the
Section 232 process, can you explain what role the Department will have
in making recommendations on the ultimate need of duty imposition?
Should the President seek to utilize the Section 232 process, can you
commit that you will engage in a fair and transparent investigation
process?
Answer. As part of the Administration's trade team, the Department
has immense analytical capabilities that will be brought to bear in a
deliberative process of this magnitude. Regarding Section 232, the
Department has a long record of fair and transparent investigations,
whether in the Section 232 context or regarding other matters.
Question 3. Mr. Lutnick, it is imperative that we address both the
economic and national security threat posed by Chinese government-
backed automotive companies. That's why I pushed for the Biden
Administration's rule--finalized early this year--that would prevent
the import or sale of any Chinese-controlled connected vehicle or
vehicles component in the U.S. This rule--written by the Bureau of
Industry and Security under the Department of Commerce--would prevent
Chinese companies from building manufacturing plants in Mexico in order
to send vehicles that could spy on Americans across the border.
However, President Trump signed an executive order last week that
freezes and calls for a review of this important rule. If confirmed,
will you work to immediately unfreeze this rule and implement this ban
on dangerous Chinese-connected vehicles and vehicles technologies in
America?
Answer. As I understand, there has not been a notice published in
the Federal Register delaying this rule. Upon confirmation, I will
review this regulation and take appropriate action.
Question 4. Mr. Lutnick, the Chips and Science Act has been a huge
win for Michigan manufacturers. I was encouraged in our meeting by your
support for this law and projects like Hemlock Semiconductor's
expansion in Saginaw, Michigan. As you may know, I authored a provision
in the Chips and Science Act to ensure funding also went to ensuring
the domestic production of the types of chips used in automobiles--or
``legacy chips.'' In 2020, a shortage of these chips left thousands of
vehicles sitting in lots waiting for parts and caused the price of a
car to increase significantly for consumers. If confirmed, will you
continue to prioritize Chips Act funding for domestic mature node
production? What additional steps will you take to ensure that the
United States has a secure, domestic source of these mature chips?
Answer. The CHIPS Act advanced efforts to ensure that the United
States has robust domestic manufacturing capacity and supply chains to
support the production of semiconductors whether they are leading edge
or legacy-node semiconductors, including those critical to automotive
and other applications. Upon confirmation, I plan to ensure that the
Department is delivering on those requirements in the most effective
way possible.
Question 5. Mr. Lutnick, Michigan received over $1.5 billion in the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's BEAD program to build rural broadband
across Michigan and make sure every Michigander has access to high-
speed internet. The process for deploying these funds has been long due
to Congress's requirement to improve FCC mapping prior to the
deployment of funds to ensure that funding would flow to those
communities who are the most in need. Those projects are starting now,
and our state needs certainty that the rug won't be ripped out from
under them as we build out broadband networks over the next decade. If
confirmed, do you commit to preventing rural broadband funding from
being frozen, withdrawn, or otherwise unnecessarily delayed?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I plan to review BEAD funding closely,
ensure thoughtful consideration is provided to all states, including
Michigan, and implement the law to ensure efficient and effective
outcomes for all Americans.
Question 6. Mr. Lutnick, the BEAD program statute, supported by
both Democrats and Republicans, allows states that have left over BEAD
funds after fully deploying broadband Internet to all the unserved
locations in the state to use those leftover funds for digital skills
training to ensure that our workforce has the Internet skills they need
in our modern economy. The law does not allow NTIA to punish states who
used funds efficiently by clawing back leftover funds--instead states
must be allowed to use these funds for their intended purpose. If
confirmed will you commit to follow the law and allow states that have
leftover BEAD funds to use them on eligible digital skills and literacy
programs?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I commit to reviewing BEAD nondeployment
funds to ensure that they are efficiently and effectively used
consistent with the law.
Question 7. Mr. Lutnick, the Michigan Manufacturing Tech Center
(MMTC) does amazing work with small and medium manufacturers across my
state--doing personalized consultations, workforce training, and
helping small businesses integrate new technologies into their
manufacturing process. The MMTC is part of the Department of Commerce's
Hollingsworth Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.
Unfortunately, Project 2025 called for privatizing this program, which
would reduce the capacity of Centers like MMTC to support Michigan
small businesses. These centers have an exceptionally high return on
investment--MMTC creates $18 dollars in economic growth for every $1 it
spends. If confirmed, do you commit to opposing efforts any efforts to
privatize or defund Manufacturing Extension Partnerships?
Answer. President Donald J. Trump will make a decision in due
course regarding the budget and spending priorities that he will submit
to Congress in the coming months.
Question 8. Mr. Lutnick, the Department of Commerce houses the
Census Bureau, a critical agency. The Bureau conducts the census, the
only comprehensive source of data about our Nation. It also leads
essential surveys--like the Economic Census and the American Community
Survey--which provide the data for our Nation's economic indicators,
and help businesses determine how to invest and create jobs. Census
data affect our roads, hospitals, schools, fire departments, veterans'
services, small businesses, and more. To carry out this mission,
especially in rural communities and others that are hard to count, the
Bureau needs sufficient funding. If confirmed, will you work with me to
ensure that Census Bureau funding is a priority for the Commerce
Department?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I commit to working with you and your
staff on issues pertaining to the Census Bureau.
Question 9. Mr. Lutnick, Next Fiscal Year, the Census Bureau is
planning to conduct the 2026 Census Test, the first major on-the-ground
tests to prepare for the 2030 Census. These tests, conducted in six
sites nationwide, will evaluate innovative technologies and
methodologies to help ensure the next decennial count is accurate and
cost efficient, including for rural areas, tribal areas, high-growth
areas, and others. To ensure the success of this critical planning
phase, the Bureau needs the ability to hire staff, as well as reliable
funding. What are your plans for ensuring continuity of operations for
the 2026 Census Test?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I plan to work closely with Census
Bureau leadership and staff to ensure the effectiveness of its
operations.
Question 10. I proudly serve as Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task
Force and have long advocated for the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental
Research Laboratory (GLERL). GLERL studies the dynamic environments and
ecosystems of the Great Lakes. The work produced and shared by GLERL
informs local decisions for safe and sustainable resource management
throughout the Great Lakes Basin. GLERL research also plays a crucial
role in the work carried out by the Coast Guard's Center of Expertise
for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response in Sault Ste Marie. If
confirmed, will you support stable funding and continued attention to
GLERL and its mission in the Great Lakes?
Answer. I will work closely with you and your office with regard to
funding and proper attention to the GLERL.
Question 11. Mr. Lutnick, the Chips and Science Act included $11
billion for research and development. Given the speed of innovation in
the semiconductor industry and the unusually high reliance the sector
has on R&D, disseminating these funds in a fair and transparent manner
is essential to ensure that the progress we are making in onshoring
semiconductor supply chains is not lost. If confirmed, will you commit
to fairly allocating the remaining R&D funding to keep our
semiconductor sector competitive?
Answer. Ensuring that the U.S. has robust domestic manufacturing
capacity and supply chains to support the production of semiconductors
whether they are leading edge or legacy-node semiconductors like those
critical to automotive and other applications is called for by the
CHIPS Act. Upon confirmation, I plan to ensure that the Department is
delivering on those requirements in the most effective way possible.
Question 12. The Department of Commerce strongly encouraged
applicants for CHIPS funding to use a project labor agreement (PLA) to
reduce the risk of delays in project delivery and ensure the creation
of good-paying jobs. If a PLA is not used, the Department of Commerce
requested applicants demonstrate workforce continuity with other
measures, such as commitments to target labor hours expected to be
performed by registered apprentices. If confirmed, will you keep this
policy in place?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I plan to ensure that the CHIPS funding
agreements are structured to deliver the most benefit to Americans and
that we maintain a robust domestic semiconductor manufacturing base.
Question 13. It has been reported that while at Cantor-Fitzgerald,
you were responsible for managing the assets of the cryptocurrency,
Tether. It appears that this Administration wants to take an active
look into regulations surrounding digital assets, including
cryptocurrencies. In fact, in his first week in office, the President
issued an Executive Order establishing a working group designed to
examine the future of digital assets in this country, and the position
for which you've been nominated was listed as a member of this working
group. The future of cryptocurrencies and digital assets is one that
will require bipartisan cooperation, and it is critical that agendas
are not being pursued as we craft common-sense rules and regulations.
As such, do you believe that your previous work with Tether is a
conflict of interest that should prohibit you from engaging in
conversations about future Federal treatment and regulation of digital
assets?
Answer. I will follow applicable government ethics laws and
regulations based on guidance from the Ethics Office of the Department
of Commerce.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Baldwin to
Howard Lutnick
American Innovation
The Department of Commerce does significant work to ensure U.S.
companies are able to compete with China and drive American innovation.
Question 1. How will you utilize programs within the Commerce
Department, including those authorized by the bipartisan CHIPs and
Science Act, to promote American innovation?
Answer. The Department plays a critical role in driving American
innovation, especially in areas of critical technology that are
critical for our competition with China. From efforts at NIST to drive
innovation AI, quantum science, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, to
programs at BIS that help protect U.S. leadership in critical those
same critical technology areas, I will ensure that the Department is
well positioned to continue to drive U.S. innovation. I look forward to
working with the Administration and Congress to that end.
Wisconsin BioHealth Tech Hub
Wisconsin's BioHealth Tech Hub positions the state as a global
leader in personalized medicine, which tailors healthcare treatment to
a patient's unique history and genetic code.
Question 2. Last week, I spoke with community leaders involved with
Wisconsin's Tech Hub. Their number one question was, can we count on
future funding?
Answer. Please see below for the answer to questions 2 and 3.
The first tranche of funding has been disbursed, but there are
millions more owed to the Tech Hub over the next 5 years.
Question 3. Should the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub be concerned
they may not receive future tranches of funding?
Answer. I recognize the importance of the Tech Hubs program and
look forward to closely reviewing the program and staying in contact
with your office to ensure that the American people are getting the
benefit of the bargain.
Sec 232 Steel Derivatives
Section 232 tariffs have been successful in defending the U.S.
steel and aluminum industry from dumping by foreign producers,
primarily China. However, in response to these tariffs, foreign
producers have shifted their production downstream. Prestressed
concrete (PC) steel strand, a derivative steel product made from steel
wire rod, and fabricated structural steel (FSS), a derivative steel
product made from steel beams, sections, and plate are not currently
protected under the Sec. 232 tariff program. These downstream products
are critical to our nation's physical infrastructure. Expanding the 232
tariffs to cover these products would lead to increased domestic
production capacity and protect American jobs.
Question 4. If confirmed, will you expand the scope of the Section
232 steel tariffs to cover prestressed concrete steel strand and
fabricated structural steel?
Answer. I understand President Donald J. Trump's America First
Trade Policy Memorandum directs the Department to study the existing
steel tariffs and suggest potential changes. Upon confirmation, I will
be sure the Department specifically looks at prestressed concrete steel
strand and fabricated structural steel.
AD/CVD
Over the past decade, the number of U.S. trade remedy orders has
grown substantially. During this time, instances of transshipment and
other forms of customs fraud have also increased.
Foreign producers, particularly in China, have created elaborate
schemes using shell companies to obscure the origin of their products
and evade AD and CVD duties.
Question 5. With that context, do you believe the United States'
``trade toolbox'' needs to be updated?
Answer. I look forward to working with Congress to ensure the
Department has the resources and tools it needs to strongly enforce our
trade laws.
Question 6. If so, will you work with me to strengthen Customs'
enforcement tools to uphold lawfully imposed trade orders and preserve
the effectiveness of U.S. trade laws?
Answer. Yes.
Trade Enforcement
The Commerce Department has a critical role to play in the
enforcement of our trade laws and in ensuring a level playing field for
domestic manufacturers. Unfortunately, we have seen time and again
foreign producers flood the U.S. market with dumped and subsidized
imports. as well as design all sorts of tactics to evade our trade laws
and current orders. While China is notorious for this type of unfair
trade activity, producers from historically allied nations take
advantage of our trade laws as well. For example, in steel, the United
States has orders against unfair trade from a long list of foreign
producers including many in the EU and Japan. Japan alone has at least
a dozen AD/CVD orders on steel products on the books and just last
November, the International Trade Administration preliminarily
determined that Japanese company Nippon Steel dumped hot-rolled steel
products on the U.S. market by a margin of 29.03 percent during the
period between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. This is a
substantial increase in the dumping margin from the previous level of
1.39 percent is a worrisome trend that suggests the company continues
to embrace anti-competitive trade practices that harm American
steelworkers.
Question 7. If confirmed, what actions will you direct Commerce
Department officials to take action to enhance trade enforcement and
thwart unfair trade antics, in order to ultimately strengthen and grow
domestic manufacturing by American workers?
Answer. I look forward to working with Congress to ensure the
Department has the resources and tools it needs to strongly enforce our
trade laws.
Chinese Connected Vehicles
The Commerce Department recently finalized rulemaking to restrict
the import or sale of ``connected vehicle'' technology--as well as
completed vehicles that contain the restricted hardware or software--
from foreign adversaries. Today's modern vehicles are embedded with
sensors, microphones, cameras, automated driving systems, and other
potential access points for data collection and operational control
that must not fall into the hands of China, Russia, or other
adversaries. This rule is an important step towards protecting our
national security from dual use military technologies of adversaries,
but also our economic welfare as Chinese companies increasingly look
for opportunities to penetrate our critical infrastructure markets and
disrupt supply chains.
I am concerned, however, that the rule was limited only to the
passenger vehicle market--excluding commercial vehicles such as buses
from the final scope even though Commerce itself noted that the
national security risks are ``grave.'' While the rule is largely
proactive in keeping Chinese passenger autos out of the U.S. market,
the same cannot be said of commercial vehicles such as buses. These
commercial vehicles produced by Chinese companies--such as BYD--are
already operating throughout the United States as transit systems in
major U.S. cities, moving passengers at major U.S. airports, moving
cargo at our ports, and perhaps soon bringing our children to school or
moving goods across our highways on trucks.
Question 8. BIS states in its final rule that it intends to propose
a new rule specifically tailored to the commercial vehicle sector. Mr.
Lutnick, will you commit to prioritizing such rulemaking for commercial
vehicles and continue to evaluate the necessity for similar
restrictions on drones, vessels and maritime applications, and other
applications where U.S. economic and national security are at risk?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will be sure to get briefed on this
potential rule and take appropriate action.
MBDA
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) provides high
quality, technical assistance to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs)--
including counseling and mentoring, assisting with access to capital,
contracts and grants, and supporting job creation and retention. The
funding provided supports small businesses and local communities across
the country.
Question 9. What are your priorities for MBDA?
Answer. My priority for MBDA is for it to operate efficiently,
effectively, and in compliance with the law.
Question 10. Can minority owned small businesses count on your
advocacy and support?
Answer. Yes.
NOAA
Question 11. What can we expect from the Department regarding
budget requests for NOAA?
Answer. NOAA provides important and valuable services to the
American people. The Department will seek to ensure that it continues
to provide these services in an efficient and effective manner to live
up to its mission.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Tammy Duckworth to
Howard Lutnick
Question Topic: Trade Policy
Increasing the resiliency of our Nation's supply chain is crucial
for both our economy and our national security. To do this, we need
strong relationships with friendly partner countries. One of Commerce's
primary regional agreements is the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for
Prosperity--also known as IPEF. IPEF established the Agreement Relating
to Supply Chain Resilience to work with member nations on critical
economic sectors as well as identify risks in current supply chains.
Question 1. If confirmed, what will you do to help foster strong
relationships with friendly countries who can help make our supply
chains more resilient?
Answer. The Indo-Pacific is a critical region for our economic and
national security. Upon confirmation, I will leverage the tools
available to the Department to deepen ties with countries in the region
that want to partner with us to promote mutual security and a level
playing field.
Question Topic: Economic National Security
In 2023, CNN reported that parts made by more than a dozen U.S. and
Western companies were found inside a single Iranian drone downed by
Ukraine. If confirmed, you will oversee the Bureau of Industry and
Security (BIS), whose export control mission is critical for our
national security.
Question 2. If confirmed, how will you ensure BIS is pursuing
robust export controls to keep sensitive materials out of the hands of
bad actors?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I plan to review the authorities and
tools under BIS closely to ensure sensitive materials are kept out of
the hands of bad actors.
Question 3. Do you think BIS needs more resources from Congress?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to working with Congress
to make sure BIS is properly resourced.
Question Topic: Including People with Disabilities
According to the International Finance Corporation, people with
disabilities represent a global market bigger than China. This
population consists of 1.85 billion people--with $1.9 trillion in
annual disposable income. In the United States, more than 70 million
people have a disability. That number is expected to increase as our
aging population continues to grow. Ensuring these Americans can fully
access--and help grow--our nation's economy will be critical to keep
America competitive.
Question 4. If confirmed, how will you ensure that Americans with
disabilities will be able to fully access and contribute to our
economy?
Answer. Growing the U.S. economy is a distinct priority of mine.
Upon confirmation, I will use all appropriate tools to grow the economy
and to ensure that Americans with disabilities have access and
contribute to its growth.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Jacky Rosen to
Howard Lutnick
Topic: Tariffs on Homebuilding Materials
There is an affordable housing crisis in Nevada and across the
nation, and tariffs on homebuilding materials will only serve to
increase housing costs. Since 2020, more than 80 percent of
construction materials have gone up in price. Softwood lumber prices
have been especially volatile, increasing approximately 35 percent in
the last five years. While the U.S. does produce its own lumber, we
cannot meet our own demand from domestic production alone. As the top
exporter of lumber to the U.S., Canada serves as a critical partner in
our efforts to increase housing supply by ensuring that we have a
reliable source of lumber at a competitive price. President Trump's
proposed tariffs are estimated to raise the already-high cost of
construction materials by $3 billion to $4 billion, which would make
homebuilding drastically more expensive and ultimately increase housing
costs for homebuyers and renters.
Question 1. If confirmed, do I have your commitment that any
tariffs imposed by the Administration will be narrowly targeted so as
to not negatively impact housing affordability?
Answer. I understand President Donald J. Trump's America First
Trade Policy Memorandum directs the Department and other agencies to
study tariffs in a variety of contexts. I cannot speak to those efforts
and, moreover, I should refrain from prejudging the results of that
study or predict how President Trump may react to their findings.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Ben Ray Lujan to
Howard Lutnick
Question 1. Yes or no, do you commit to continuing to invest in
domestic chip manufacturing through the CHIPS Act as authorized by
Congress?
Answer. Yes, I am committed to investing in domestic chip
manufacturing and look forward to reviewing all the agreements and
ensuring that they are structured to deliver the best results for the
American people.
Question 2. Yes or no, do you commit to supporting and working with
our National Laboratories?
Answer. Yes, where there is a programmatic need to for the
Department to work with the DOE National Laboratories, it should do so.
Question 3. If the Supreme Court rules that an order taken by the
President is unlawful, will you refrain from carrying out that order?
Please answer yes or no.
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will take an oath to defend the
Constitution. I will abide by that oath.
Question 4. Yes or no, if you are confirmed, will you commit to
protecting the independence of the Department of Commerce Inspector
General?
a. Yes or no, will you commit to letting the Inspector General
choose their investigations and audits?
Answer. I commit to following the law and advancing the Inspector
General's mission to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the
Department's programs and operations and to detect and deter waste,
fraud, and abuse.
b. Yes or no, would you ever direct the Inspector General to
investigate something or someone at the request of the White House?
Answer. I commit to following the law and advancing the Inspector
General's mission to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the
Department's programs and operations and to detect and deter waste,
fraud, and abuse.
Question 5. The President may fire inspectors general. However, he
must notify Congress 30 days in advance of such action. Last week,
Trump fired the Department of Commerce Inspector General without
providing the 30 days notice. Yes or no, did President Trump comply
with the law when he terminated the Commerce Inspector General?
Answer. I look forward to working with the new Inspector General
upon confirmation.
Question 6. Do you commit to allowing states to move forward with
their current BEAD plans as approved by the NTIA without forcing them
to adopt changes that would significantly slow down their process of
getting shovels in the ground?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to analyzing the BEAD
program, including states' plans, to ensure that all Americans are
getting the benefit of the bargain, as Congress intended.
Question 7. As you embark on the process of examining ways in which
government spectrum can be shared to support commercial uses, will you
commit to preserving and extending the principles that underpinned CBRS
in expanding access to wireless spectrum in ways that incentivize
greater innovation and competition?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will take a thoughtful, rigorous, and
data-driven approach to spectrum management, taking into account
national security, commercial applications, and the effects on the
American taxpayer. I look forward to analyzing CBRS to determine the
best ways to foster innovation and competition.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John Hickenlooper to
Howard Lutnick
Small Business: Key agencies in the Department of Commerce like the
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Economic
Development Administration have been directed by Congress to foster
startup creation, support entrepreneurs and small businesses, and
develop innovation hubs to increase regional growth. The Department
also oversees trade compliance and exports of U.S. goods to markets
overseas.
Question 1. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how will you ensure any new
tariffs or revised trade actions do not harm America's ``Main Street''
economy and how will you measure the success of economic development
programs carried out by the Department of Commerce?
Answer. I understand President Donald J. Trump's America First
Trade Policy Memorandum directs the Department and other agencies to
study tariffs in a variety of contexts. Although I cannot speak to
those efforts, I will say that our goal will be to advance the cause of
American workers and families and to put them in a better economic
position than the one they have been subjected to for the last four
years.
Economic Development: The Economic Development Administration's
(EDA) Good Jobs Challenge supports regional workforce training systems
to establish sectoral partnerships that train and place workers in good
jobs. The awardees funded by the Good Jobs Challenge expand
opportunities across diverse populations, regions, and communities
including paid on-the-job training opportunities.
Question 2. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how will you direct EDA to
build upon these programs to support workforce training opportunities?
Answer. I appreciate the valuable work that EDA has done to advance
American job creation. As with all programs, I will review EDA programs
closely to ensure that it is operating efficiently and effectively and
providing American taxpayers with the benefit of the bargain.
Artificial Intelligence and Data Centers: Artificial intelligence
models require a large amount of data to be trained to generate
summaries, create lifelike images, or analyze complex supply chains. AI
is now driving a surge in demand for new data centers to support AI
model training and cloud computing activities. As AI demand increases,
so will the energy required to power data centers. We should continue
attracting investment, establishing standards, and developing state of
the art cooling technologies here in the U.S. to improve data center
efficiency.
Question 3. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how will you work with
Federal agencies, states, and industry partners to support responsible
domestic data center growth?
Answer. U.S. leadership on artificial intelligence is vitally
important to our national and economic security. Data centers and the
energy to power them are crucial to supporting this objective. Upon
confirmation, I look forward to looking with you and your staff to
identify the best ways to promote data center growth that benefits
American workers and manufacturers.
Artificial Intelligence & Standards: During your testimony, you
emphasized your belief in standards as a foundation for promoting
American innovation and augmenting the development lifecycle for AI
applications. Standards development organizations are considering
issuing a standard for the independent evaluation of AI models. These
evaluations could either be performed internally from an independent
unit of an AI developer organization or by a trustworthy third party.
Independent evaluations of AI models can ensure AI applications made
available to consumers and businesses protect sensitive data from being
leaked and ensure the application performs as intended.
Question 4. Mr. Lutnick, do you believe that voluntary and
evidence-based standards that establish consistent methods for
independent evaluations (either within an organization or by a third
party) of AI models could be a valuable tool to help U.S. innovators
maintain a competitive lead in AI?
Answer. U.S. leadership on AI standards is vitally important to our
national and economic security. Upon confirmation, I look forward to
looking with you and your staff to identify the best ways to achieve
this goal.
Communications Supply Chain and Cybersecurity: Last Congress, we
worked on a bipartisan basis to close the funding shortfall to a
Federal Communications Commission program to remove dangerous Chinese
equipment from communications networks. The Salt Typhoon attack showed
how we need to do a better job securing our data and communications
infrastructure.
The CHIPS & Science Act prioritizes supply chain resiliency and the
development of new Open Radio Access Network (Open-RAN) technology
manufactured by trusted U.S. vendors.
Question 5. Mr. Lutnick, in the wake of threats we have seen from
Chinese attacks and insecure equipment made by Huawei, if confirmed,
what is your plan to build and upgrade our communications networks with
trusted and secure vendors?
Answer. I am aware of the threat posed by Huawei and other
companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party and People's
Liberation Army. I look forward to working with the Administration and
Congress to ensure that the programs and resources of the Department
and our partners ensure that the United States is able to maintain a
robust and trusted telecommunications infrastructure.
Cybersecurity: During your nomination hearing, you used the
cybersecurity standards and guidance developed by the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a model for how the
Department of Commerce should approach Artificial Intelligence. In
recent years, NIST has produced cybersecurity guidance for
organizations of all sizes including the recently updated Cybersecurity
Framework and associated resources. Even beyond the Department of
Commerce, several U.S. Departments and Agencies coordinate, assert
jurisdiction over, or enforce sector-specific rules, with respect to
cybersecurity. As a result, small businesses struggle to allocate
resources to understand and implement cyber defenses and many large
companies with sufficient resources still find themselves vulnerable to
preventable cyberattacks. These attacks can result in financial losses,
service disruptions, legal consequences, and economic harm that
directly impacts Americans.
Question 6. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, what actions would you take,
or recommend Congress to take, to amplify the impact of cybersecurity
standards and guidance produced by the Department of Commerce to
improve cyber resilience across the private sector?
Answer. NIST's prior work on cybersecurity standards is the gold
standard for the world. Upon confirmation, I will build on this work
through the creation of AI standards, and I look forward to working
with you and your staff to improve cyber resilience.
Question 7. Will you commit to helping harmonize the application of
cybersecurity rules, regulations, or guidelines across the Federal
government where appropriate?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to working with you and
your staff on this issue.
Export Controls & Emerging Technologies: Global competition in key
technologies has continued to increase in recent years. To protect
sensitive U.S. technologies from adversaries, Presidents Trump and
Biden have issued export controls to limit the sale of U.S.-made
semiconductor, quantum, AI, and aerospace technologies to countries of
concern. This month, the Department of Commerce updated export controls
to promote access to U.S. innovations in AI among trusted allies while
limiting the sale of advanced semiconductors to adversaries.
Question 8. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how would you carry out an
export control strategy that balances safeguarding U.S. technologies
with promoting American competitiveness globally?
Answer. This is a central question moving forward, and I will
commit to collect inputs from Congress, industry, and the public as we
work to properly protect U.S. technology from exploitation by malign
actors.
Question 9. Which reforms do you believe Congress should provide
the Department following the enactment of the Export Control Reform Act
of 2018?
Answer. President Trump's America First Trade Policy Memorandum
directs the Department to study this issue. I should refrain from
prejudging the results of that study, but I look forward to working
with Congress to implement any proposals that result from it.
Question 10. How will you work to increase interagency
collaboration in the development of export controls and provide
sufficient transparency for impacted U.S. companies?
Answer. There is a robust interagency process around U.S. export
controls, and I will work to ensure this process runs smoothly and with
as much transparency as possible while still protecting privacy and
national security.
Question 11. In your view, what amount of additional personnel and
appropriations would the Bureau of Industry and Security, including the
Office of Information and Communications Technology Services (ICTS),
need to succeed?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to closely reviewing the
needs of the Department of Commerce, including BIS.
Semiconductors & NSTC: Considering the ongoing importance of
ensuring the U.S. is leading in both the design and manufacturing of
semiconductor chips, it is essential the progress we have made via the
CHIPS R&D Office and the National Semiconductor Technology Center
(NSTC) continues.
Question 12. Can you commit to ensuring continued funding at the
levels that Congress appropriated and the Commerce Dept has awarded to
date?
Answer. I will efficiently and effectively execute on congressional
funding that Congress appropriates to the Department.
Question 13. Specifically, for the NSTC facilities in Arizona,
California, and New York? What is your timeline?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to getting detailed
briefings on those announced projects and the expected timelines.
Question 14. How will you ensure different NSTC facilities
established across the United States remain coordinated with each other
within their program activities and those of the Department of
Defense's Microelectronics Commons?
Answer. The Department plays a critical role in driving American
innovation, especially in areas of critical technology that are
critical for our competition with China. From efforts at NIST to drive
innovation AI, quantum science, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, to
programs at BIS that help protect U.S. leadership in critical those
same critical technology areas, I will ensure that the Department is
well positioned to continue to drive U.S. innovation. I look forward to
working with the Administration and Congress to that end.
Outdoor Recreation: The Department of Commerce recently created an
Office of Travel and Tourism. The Office has a dedicated mission to
attract domestic and international visitors to landmarks across the
country. Colorado has a rich and diverse outdoor recreation economy
that spurs travel and tourism to communities across the state and
contributes $14B to our GDP.
Question 15. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how would you ensure the
enforcement of tariffs does not unduly harm the needs of the outdoor
recreation sector and the Department of Commerce's tourism mission?
Answer. President Donald J. Trump, through his America First Trade
policy, will fight for American workers and businesses, including the
U.S. travel and tourism industry. The President has made clear that
tariffs are a crucial tool in making sure that America is no longer
taken advantage of by our trading partners.
Question 16. What is your general view on exemptions, which have
precedent following prior tariffs, to avoid undue harm to small
businesses including the outdoor recreation sector?
Answer. I understand President Donald J. Trump's America First
Trade Policy Memorandum directs the Department and other agencies to
study tariffs in a variety of contexts. I cannot speak to those efforts
and, moreover, I will refrain from prejudging the results of that
study.
Tariff Exceptions
Under the last Trump Administration, many companies filed for
exemptions from the application of tariffs issued under Section 301 of
the Trade Act. The Trump Administration has stated its intent to apply
tariffs in the near future on neighboring allies ahead of the USMCA
review in 2026. There are U.S.-based companies with operations in the
U.S. and Canada who are fearful they will have to pay tariffs on their
own intra-company, essentially internal shipments of supplies,
necessary to make their products.
Question 17. How should new tariff policies account for intra-
company shipments?
Answer. I understand President Donald J. Trump's America First
Trade Policy Memorandum directs the Department and other agencies to
study tariffs in a variety of contexts. I will refrain from prejudging
the results of that study.
U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement Review: The Trump Administration
entered into the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) to reform the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). USMCA requires a
comprehensive review before the end of 2026 to evaluate trade
compliance under the USMCA. Colorado's top three exports to Canada and
Mexico include agricultural, machinery, and electronics products.
Colorado also has a leading aerospace sector that contributes to our
national security and space exploration missions.
Question 18. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how will the Department of
Commerce help ensure all U.S. businesses have a level playing field as
part of the upcoming USMCA review?
Answer. One of the Department's core missions is to ensure fair
treatment for U.S. businesses and an even playing field on the global
stage. That will remain a priority.
Question 19. Which sectors of the economy do you believe will
benefit the most by the USMCA review?
Answer. I will not prejudge the results of the coming review.
Tariffs and Chips: The first Trump Administration imposed tariffs
on Chinese goods such as motor vehicle parts. According to the U.S.
International Trade Commission, the full burden of the tariffs were
passed on to our own importers, rather than any of this cost being
incurred by the Chinese exporters. The Trump Administration also
imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum which increased prices and
production costs in industries like car manufacturing and oil and gas.
While the bipartisan CHIPS Act is growing manufacturing here in the
U.S., the President stated he will be imposing tariffs on
semiconductors from Taiwan.
Question 20. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, will you ensure that the
U.S. government honors its financial commitments under the CHIPS Act to
companies who are ramping up their domestic manufacturing facilities?
Answer. I will ensure that the American people get the benefit of
the bargain, and that CHIPS Act money achieves its intended goal. I
will take a rigorous approach to ensure that the agreements that the
Department makes as part of the CHIPS act deliver for the American
people.
Question 21. What is your plan to offset rising costs for the raw
materials we need for domestic manufacturing of semiconductors?
Answer. Semiconductors represent a critical supply chain for the
economic and national security of the United States. Upon my
confirmation, the Department will be taking a whole of government
approach as we seek to secure those supply chains.
Broadband Workforce: Every American deserves access to high-speed
broadband. Too many Coloradans and households across rural America lack
access to any broadband service. While Congress has invested over $42
billion to expand access to high-speed broadband, we need to make sure
we have enough workers to build these important projects. Reports
indicate we need roughly 30,000 more workers in the next five years to
build Federal broadband projects we invested in.
Question 22. Mr. Lutnick, what is your plan to ensure the U.S. has
enough workers ready to put shovels in the ground to build the
broadband networks of the future?
Answer. The United States has the greatest workforce in the world.
Upon confirmation, I will ensure that we have the workers to build out
these broadband networks of the future. I will engage with all
stakeholders to achieve a highly-trained broadband workforce that will
help lead our country into the future.
Natural Disaster Monitoring & NOAA: We have seen devastating
wildfires rampage across the City of Los Angeles. In Colorado, we are
all too familiar with natural disasters such as wildfires and drought.
Today, every part of the United States is vulnerable to some form of a
natural disaster. We need to continue pushing the limits of space-based
Earth observation technologies, weather forecasting capabilities, and
mitigation planning, thus fortifying our economy, national security,
and individuals' safety.
Question 23. Mr. Lutnick, if confirmed, how do you plan to expand
NOAA's research efforts that enable better forecasts, give earlier
warnings, and improve preparedness for natural disasters?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will seek to ensure that NOAA leads
the world in providing the best forecasts, earliest warnings, and
maintains optimal preparedness for national disasters to the benefit of
the American people.
Question 24. How do you plan to support NOAA and its University-
based Cooperative Institutes to serve the Nation's needs in weather,
oceans, and coasts?
Answer. The Cooperative Institutes are key partners with NOAA in
its mission to serve the American people.
Question 25. Will you support necessary funding for NOAA's GeoXO
program as well as next-generation Low Earth Orbit (LEO) weather and
space weather satellite programs?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will ensure that there is funding for
NOAA to continue to collect robust data from satellites to satisfy its
mission to the American people.
Spectrum: The National Telecommunications & Information
Administration (NTIA) manages Federal agencies' use of spectrum used by
Federal agencies to complete their missions. The Institute of
Telecommunications Sciences is located in Boulder, CO and is the
leading spectrum lab for the Department of Commerce. It is no secret
that Congress and the Executive Branch have struggled to balance the
commercial demands for spectrum with essential Federal agency missions.
For example:
In the auction for commercial licenses in the 24 GHz band,
agencies such as NOAA and NASA, as well as scientists, raised
concerns about potential electromagnetic interference impacting
weather forecasting.
In the auction for commercial licenses in the ``C-Band'',
agencies such as the FAA and the airline industry raised
concerns about potential interference impacting aviation safety
technologies.
In various Congressional, Interagency, and private sector
conversations around a provision in the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law regarding the ``Lower 3 GHz'' band, concerns
have been raised about any auction for commercial licenses
causing potential interference impacting national security
missions carried out by the Department of Defense.
These proceedings saw disagreements arise over (1) the design,
execution, and leadership of studies to evaluate the feasibility of
sharing or reallocating spectrum and (2) the likelihood of spectrum
interference to adjacent spectrum users.
Question 26. If confirmed, how would you ensure the Department of
Commerce executes a balanced spectrum management approach that fairly
considers the equities of the Federal agencies it is responsible by
statute for representing? Will you commit to allowing evidence-based
and impartial studies to help guide spectrum policy decisions?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will take a thoughtful, rigorous, and
data-driven approach to spectrum management, taking into account
national security, commercial applications, and the effects on the
American taxpayer.
Spectrum Relocation Fund: Under the Spectrum Relocation Fund, an
agency may only be reimbursed for a ``comparable capability'' in terms
of costs to modify their systems following a spectrum reallocation or
spectrum sharing action.
Question 27. Do you believe this mechanism has been interpreted in
a way that limits the ability of Federal agencies to modify and
modernize their systems following a spectrum reallocation or sharing
action? If yes, what impact would this have on the ability of Federal
agencies from fulfilling their missions which require access to
spectrum?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will review the Spectrum Relocation
Fund to determine its impact on Federal agencies.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John Fetterman to
Howard Lutnick
Question 1. The Department of Commerce plays a key role in
administering and enforcing our anti-dumping/counter vailing duty (AD/
CVD) laws. These are tools that domestic industry uses to counter
unfair trade practices that put American workers at a disadvantage on
the international playing field. Despite these tools, China has built
up a massive amount of overcapacity in sectors like steel and is
flooding the market globally with dumped and subsidized steel. Chinese
companies are also making massive investments in steelmaking capacity
outside China through cross border subsidization, to evade payment of
duties on from prior AD/CVD investigations. Do you agree that we need
more tools to address schemes like these to protect critical domestic
industries like iron and steel making? If so, what suggestions do you
have for steps Commerce can take under existing statute to address
unfair trade practices and what recommendations would you propose to
Congress to ensure a level playing field for American workers and
industry?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to studying the issue and
working with Congress to make sure that the Department has the
resources and tools it needs to strongly enforce our trade laws and
address unfair trade practices by foreign actors.
Question 2. I am closely monitoring the current outbreak of Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and the serious threat it poses to
our Nation's public health, food production, and the way of life of
farmers across the country. President Trump has threatened to levy
tariffs as early as February 1, 2025 on Mexico and Canada, with other
nations implicated in the near future. The President, yourself, and I
share the same goals to reshore American manufacturing and reduce our
dependence on China. However, I am concerned that disruptions in our
supply chain from retaliatory tariffs or increased prices could
negatively impact the ability of biomedical manufacturers currently
operating in the United States to meet increased demand should this
outbreak become something much worse. Are you committed to closely
reviewing the impact that tariffs on medical equipment, vaccines,
medications, and any components that are necessary to manufacture these
aforementioned items, would have on the ability of U.S. manufacturers
to meet demand if the current HPAI outbreak becomes more severe?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will do whatever is necessary to
ensure the safety and prosperity of the American people.
Question 3. It's essential that the new generation of American
high-tech manufacturing being enabled by CHIPS Act funding creates
quality jobs that can sustain Pennsylvania families and their
communities. Strong labor protections, including the use of Project
Labor Agreements (PLAs), are indispensable to getting that done. I was
glad that the Department of Commerce recognized the importance of PLAs
and other pro-worker tools and policies, like requiring the use of
registered apprentices, to delivering these high-tech investments on
time and within their budgets. If confirmed, will you commit to
maintaining the Department's policies supporting the use of PLAs and
strong labor protections for the Pennsylvania workers who are breaking
their backs to build our future?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to reviewing all such
agreements and ensuring that they are structured to deliver the best
results for the American people.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Lisa Blunt Rochester to
Howard Lutnick
Question Title: Broadband Access and Digital Skills
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) administers the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD)
program and the Digital Equity Act. These laws increase access to
broadband and help improve digital skills to underserved communities
like seniors and veterans. Older Americans are particularly at risk of
being scammed and defrauded. Digital skills can help prepare seniors to
recognize and avoid online traps.
Question 1. Do you think NTIA should continue to support digital
skills training for older Americans?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to analyzing the BEAD
program to ensure that all Americans, including older Americans, are
getting the benefit of the bargain.
Question 2. Do you think NTIA should support digital skills
training for veterans, Americans in rural areas, and those who face
substantial barriers to skills training?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to analyzing the BEAD
program to ensure that all Americans, including veterans and rural
Americans, are getting the benefit of the bargain.
Question 3. What steps will you take as Secretary to promote
digital literacy for seniors and other underserved communities?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I look forward to analyzing the BEAD
program to ensure that all Americans, including seniors and other
underserved communities, are getting the benefit of the bargain.
Question 4. Do you think artificial intelligence literacy is a
component of digital literacy?
Answer. Understanding how artificial intelligence works and how it
impacts the lives of all Americans is important to protecting U.S.
national and economic security.
Question 5. More than 50,000 Delaware households needed support to
afford Internet access and benefited from the Affordable Connectivity
Program, which lapsed in April 2024. Do you think affordable Internet
access is essential to full participation in the modern economy?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will work to ensure that programs
designed to make broadband more affordable address the problem
effectively.
Question 6. Do you think the Commerce Department, NTIA, and the
Administration should prioritize making broadband more affordable for
Americans?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will work to ensure that programs
designed to make broadband more affordable address the problem
effectively.
Question 7. Delaware was the second state in the Nation to submit
its BEAD plan, which has been approved. Delaware is on track to be the
first fully connected state. Do you commit to honoring Delaware's
approved BEAD plan and implement the law as written by Congress?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I plan to review BEAD funding closely,
ensure thoughtful consideration is provided to all states, including
Delaware, and implement the law to ensure efficient and effective
outcomes for all Americans.
Question Title: Advanced Manufacturing Competitiveness
Question 8. Manufacturing is critical to our economic growth,
national security, and general prosperity. Historically, the U.S. has
led the world as an innovation and manufacturing powerhouse. However,
that leadership is not guaranteed. Over the last several decades, our
country has fallen behind in many ways compared to competitors around
the world. The Manufacturing USA program administered by the Department
of Commerce helps address this problem. As I mentioned in the hearing,
one of those centers of excellence is located in my state--the National
Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL).
Institutes like NIIMBL accelerate the development and adoption of
innovative manufacturing technologies, develop new standards and best
practices, create and train a manufacturing workforce, and help secure
our economic security. What strategies would you employ as Secretary to
support advanced manufacturing leadership?
Answer. Bringing back all manufacturing to the United States,
including advanced manufacturing, is a distinct priority of mine. Upon
confirmation, I will use all appropriate tools available to me to
accomplish this goal.
Question 9. Do you believe that continued investment in bipartisan
efforts like the Manufacturing USA program is important to ensure the
U.S. competitiveness?
Answer. Promoting U.S. manufacturing and competitiveness is a
distinct priority of mine. Upon confirmation, I will use all
appropriate tools available to me to accomplish this goal.
Question 10. The Delaware Manufacturing Extension Partnership spurs
innovation, investment, and opportunity for workers in my state.
Project 2025 suggests privatizing the Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership. Do you agree with this proposal?
Answer. I was not affiliated with Project 2025. I am not in a
position to opine on any of its plans or materials.
Question 11. Do you think the MEP program is valuable?
Answer. I appreciate the valuable work that the MEP program has
done to advance American manufacturing. As with all programs, I will
review the MEP closely to ensure that it is operating efficiently and
effectively to ensure that American taxpayers are getting the benefit
of the bargain.
Question Title: Women in Construction
Question 12. The Million Women in Construction Initiative at the
Department of Commerce aims to expand the American construction
workforce by doubling the number of women in construction over the next
decade. President Trump issued an Executive Order eliminating DEI
programs. Do you consider the Women in Construction Initiative a DEI
program?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will carefully examine all Department
programs and the effect of President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order,
titled ``Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and
Preferencing'' on those programs.
Question 13. Would you end Commerce's support for increasing the
number of women in the construction industry?
Answer. Upon confirmation, I will carefully examine all Department
programs and the effect of President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order,
titled ``Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and
Preferencing'' on those programs.
Question Title: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Question 14. You have shared that as a patent holder you have
personal experience with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Are you
aware of how President Trump's plan to end remote work for Federal
workers could impact the USPTO?
Answer. I am aware and I am excited by the benefits of the
President's plan. I share his belief that in-person, on-site work
improves collaboration, communication, and accountability. For those
positions with critical skill sets and hard-to-fill vacancies, I will
work with USPTO to evaluate remote work as a potential tool to be
employed on a case-by-case basis to address unusual needs.
Question 15. USPTO has used remote work as a business strategy
since the 90s and 96 percent of the USPTO workforce is remote or has
telework agreements. How would you suggest USPTO prevent massive
disruptions if they must comply with President Trump's plan?
Answer. I would not expect any disruptions. I share the President's
belief that in-person, on-site work improves collaboration,
communication, and accountability, and will be a net positive for every
agency. For those positions with critical skill sets and hard-to-fill
vacancies, I will work with USPTO to evaluate remote work as a
potential tool to be employed on a case-by-case basis to address
unusual needs.
Question Title: NOAA's Independence
Question 16. NOAA is a critical bureau at the Department of
Commerce that is responsible for climate monitoring, coastal
restoration, environmental satellite information, and other services
that low-lying states and coastal communities like Delaware rely on. Do
you commit to honoring the scientific integrity of NOAA's work?
Answer. Having reliable, more accurate data will enable better
policy and thus improve Americans' lives. Upon confirmation, I will
support NOAA's scientific work and make sure the agency continues to
follow the scientific method faithfully.
[all]